Investigating how gut bacteria affect colitis caused by cancer treatments
Official title: Microbiota-Immune Interactions in CTLA-4 Antibody Blockade-Induced Colitis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11119028 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut and your immune system work together when you're getting a specific cancer treatment, to see why some people develop colitis, which is a painful inflammation that can interrupt their therapy, and the goal is to find ways to prevent or manage this issue for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $518,680 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140094-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11119028 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients receiving CTLA-4 antibody treatments who may be at risk for developing colitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not receiving CTLA-4 antibody treatments or those without a history of immune-related adverse events may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the interactions between gut microbiota and the immune system in patients receiving CTLA-4 antibody treatments for cancer. It aims to understand how these treatments can lead to colitis, a severe inflammatory condition that may force patients to stop their cancer therapy. By using specially designed mice that mimic human gut bacteria, the study will investigate the immune pathways involved in this adverse effect. The findings could help identify ways to prevent or manage colitis in patients undergoing cancer immunotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved management of colitis in cancer patients, allowing them to continue their life-saving treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding microbiota-immune interactions can lead to significant advancements in managing immune-related adverse events in cancer therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nunez, Gabriel — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Nunez, Gabriel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut bacteria and immune causes of colitis from CTLA-4 cancer therapy
This project looks at how gut bacteria and immune responses cause bowel inflammation in people getting CTLA-4 cancer antibodies so we can find ways to prevent or treat it.
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This research looks at whether common antibiotics and processed foods change gut bacteria so a sugar alcohol called sorbitol builds up and makes colitis worse, and whether probiotics or enzyme pills can help people with inflammatory bowel disease.
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A study at Stanford is exploring how fermented foods and their molecules, like lactate, influence gut bacteria and the body's immune and inflammatory responses in adults with adult-onset diabetes.
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This project looks at how a common human gene variant and immune factors influence the severity of C. difficile infections and whether targeting inflammation could help patients.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.