Mapping how gut bacteria transform drugs
Official title: Mapping Xenobiotic Metabolism by the Human Gut Microbiome
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11550022 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists will study how the gut microbiome changes thousands of drugs into new forms, which could affect how well a medicine works or whether it causes side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00ES037746-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11550022 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who take or are prescribed drugs metabolized by the gut microbiome may benefit from insights into how their microbiome could alter drug responses.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not using drugs metabolized by gut bacteria or without interest in personalized medication strategies may see less direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on prior work showing a complex community of gut bacteria can mimic drug metabolites found in people. It will systematically map the metabolites produced from about 800 drugs using high-throughput bacterial cultures and public data. The team will also examine how these microbial changes might alter drug effectiveness or toxicity to people. Findings could guide safer, more effective use of medications based on an individual’s gut microbiome.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to personalized medication choices that account for gut microbiome effects on drug metabolism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed that a gut bacterial community can reproduce human drug metabolites, supporting progress in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Haoqi Nina — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Haoqi Nina
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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.