Investigating how gut bacteria and blood chemicals affect pain after kidney transplants
Official title: The Gut Microbiome and Serum Metabolites as a Biological Mechanism Underlying Pain in Kidney Transplantation (Biome-KT)
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11054681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut and certain substances in your blood might be linked to the chronic pain some kidney transplant recipients feel, and it will explore how your diet and stress after the transplant could affect these factors over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $616,013 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135574-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11054681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have undergone kidney transplantation and experience chronic pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone kidney transplantation or do not experience chronic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the connection between gut microbiota, serum metabolites, and chronic pain experienced by kidney transplant recipients. It aims to understand how changes in diet and stress levels after transplantation influence these biological factors and contribute to pain. By using a prospective repeated measures design, the study will track these relationships over time to identify potential mechanisms underlying pain in this population. Patients may be asked to provide samples and participate in assessments to help uncover these dynamics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved pain management strategies for kidney transplant recipients, enhancing their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of the microbiome in pain management, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lockwood, Mark — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Lockwood, Mark
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut microbes and blood chemicals linked to pain after kidney transplant
This project looks at how changes in gut bacteria and blood metabolites relate to chronic pain in adults after a kidney transplant.
-
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Biomarker-guided Immunosuppression in Kidney Transplant Patients
A multicenter study in kidney transplant recipients is testing whether a biomarker score from HLA-DR/DQ can guide changes in immunosuppression to reduce rejection risk and drug toxicity.
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Helping the immune system accept a donated kidney in patients without prior sensitization
This project will try giving specially treated donor B cells alongside immune-sparing medicines to teach the immune systems of kidney transplant patients without prior antibodies to accept the new kidney.
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.