Metabolic gut-macteria pathways after bariatric surgery
Official title: Metaboregulatory microbial pathways shifted after bariatric surgery
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11449773 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how bariatric surgery changes gut microbes and their chemicals to improve glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 8, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $867,969 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DK126855-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449773 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes who could benefit from metabolic interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without obesity or diabetes or who do not respond to metabolic interventions may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project examines how metabolic bariatric surgery shifts gut microbes and their signaling chemicals to boost metabolism and reverse diabetes symptoms. Researchers use advanced metabolomics, germ-free models, and human patient data to identify microbiome-dependent pathways that improve glucose tolerance after sleeve gastrectomy. The goal is to find non-surgical targets or treatments that mimic these benefits for a broader population. The work builds on prior findings that bile acids and microbial metabolism play key roles in post-surgery metabolic improvements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, non-surgical therapies that replicate the diabetes-protective effects of bariatric surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown microbiome- and bile acid–related pathways influence metabolism, with ongoing efforts translating these findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheu, Eric Garland — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sheu, Eric Garland
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How bariatric surgery helps the liver heal by immune cells
This grant explores how weight-loss surgery may protect the liver from fatty inflammation by changing liver immune cells.
-
Comparing medicines and weight-loss surgery for liver disease linked to metabolic problems
This program looks at how two drugs and bariatric surgery work for adults with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and liver fibrosis.
-
Decoding how bariatric surgery changes brain signals to help weight loss
A research project looks at how weight-loss surgeries like VSG and RYGB alter brain cell activity related to appetite and metabolism to understand why these procedures work.
-
Glucagon's diabetes-related effects after bariatric surgery
This project looks at how glucagon affects blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, comparing people who have had bariatric surgery to those who haven’t.
-
BREW ME Model: How bariatric surgery changes alcohol use biology
A study investigates why some people drink more or develop hazardous drinking after bariatric surgery, using biology and behavior to understand the change.
-
Gut bacteria changes after bariatric surgery and colorectal cancer risk
This study will follow adults who had bariatric surgery to understand how changes in the gut microbiome and bile acids might influence colorectal cancer risk.
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.