Metaorganismal Endocrinology in Cardiometabolic Disease
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11444229 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing a way to target gut microbes and their products to help people with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $725,937 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DK130227-05A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444229 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or cardiometabolic disorders who are interested in gut-microbiome–targeted therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cardiometabolic disease or those not connected to gut microbiome–related mechanisms may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how bacteria in the gut interact with our body’s metabolism and body clock to influence diseases like atherosclerosis and diabetes. It focuses on a microbial pathway that makes metabolites from fatty foods and how blocking a specific microbial enzyme could improve metabolic health. The study uses animal models to show that inhibiting this microbial enzyme may protect against high-fat diet effects and shift circadian control of lipid metabolism and gut microbes. If successful, it could lead to a new, non-antibiotic therapy that helps people with cardiometabolic diseases by targeting gut microbiota.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A potential new treatment approach that modulates gut microbes to improve heart and metabolic health.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows gut microbes influence metabolism; this project aims to translate those findings into a therapeutic strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Jonathan Mark — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Brown, Jonathan Mark
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.