Metabolic signatures that predict outcomes in children with Crohn's
Official title: Population-Based Characterization of Metabolic Pathways to Predict Pediatric Crohn's Disease Outcomes
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11371199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at metabolism patterns in children with Crohn's disease to help predict how their condition will progress and respond to treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | April 25, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $610,170 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK132369-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children diagnosed with pediatric Crohn's disease (especially young children and those within typical pediatric age ranges) would be the ideal candidates for contributing data or samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without Crohn's disease or adults with only adult-onset Crohn's may not directly benefit from this pediatric-focused work, and it is not a treatment that provides immediate clinical benefit to participants.
What this research studies
If your child has Crohn's, researchers will analyze gene activity from blood and tissue samples to find metabolic patterns linked to worse outcomes. They will combine data from many children across populations and use computer models to map changes in lipids, amino acids, and other metabolic pathways. The team will link those metabolic signatures to disease subtypes, structural complications, and treatment responses. The aim is to create markers that could help doctors choose the right level of therapy for each child.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors predict which children are at higher risk of progression and tailor treatments to avoid unnecessary side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have found metabolic changes in Crohn's and early laboratory work suggests targeting some pathways (for example the mevalonate pathway) may help, but large-scale clinical validation is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Syed, Sana — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Syed, Sana
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Site-specific gene-microbial interactions in children with Crohn’s disease
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Ultrasound markers to measure Crohn’s disease activity
A Mayo Clinic team is testing new 3D ultrasound methods to reliably track inflammation and scarring in Crohn’s disease using safe, affordable imaging that could replace more costly scans.
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Understanding abnormal sugar building blocks in Crohn’s disease to guide smarter therapies
This project looks at how a specific genetic variation affects how Crohn’s disease works and whether targeting that pathway could lead to new treatments.
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AI and single-cell tests to predict Crohn's disease course in children
This project uses artificial intelligence plus single-cell and other molecular data to predict which children and teens with Crohn's disease will have mild versus severe or treatment‑resistant disease.
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How IL-23 Blockade in Crohn's Disease Changes Immune Cells
This study looks at how the IL-23 blocking therapy risankizumab affects immune cells in people with Crohn’s disease.
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Pediatric Crohn’s Disease: Endoscopic and Imaging Healing with Anti-TNF Therapy
A large pediatric study will look at how endoscopic healing and imaging healing relate to pre-treatment factors in kids newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease who start anti-TNF therapy.
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.