Microbiome-based therapy for treatment-refractory GVHD after stem cell transplant
Official title: DEVELOPMENT OF MICROBIOME-BASED THERAPY FOR TREATMENT-REFRACTORY GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11425530 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A microbiome-based therapy is being developed to help people who have graft-versus-host disease that doesn’t respond to standard treatments after a stem cell transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $660,671 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL187343-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425530 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and are at risk for or have GVHD could benefit from future microbiome-based therapies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without GVHD or those not undergoing related procedures may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project explores how the gut microbiome, especially the ileum, influences GVHD and tissue healing after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Researchers will use a new mouse model to study how disrupting gut bacteria affects immune responses and epithelial regeneration. The goal is to uncover microbiome-based strategies that could prevent or lessen treatment-refractory GVHD in patients who have undergone allo-HSCT.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new microbiome therapies that reduce GVHD severity and improve recovery after stem cell transplantation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in mice and clinical observations have linked the gut microbiome to GVHD outcomes, but small intestinal microbiome analyses in allo-HSCT patients are lacking, making this approach promising yet exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hayase, Eiko — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Hayase, Eiko
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting early oral GVHD to improve mouth health after stem cell transplant
A study at UW–Madison will explore why some transplant patients develop painful oral GVHD and test ideas to prevent and lessen mouth-related problems.
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Role of altered mitochondria in preventing GVHD after stem cell transplant
This NIH grant explores how damaged mitochondria released during pre-transplant conditioning may trigger graft-versus-host disease and tests ways to fix mitochondrial dynamics to prevent GVHD.
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Fecal transplant plus fiber to treat graft-versus-host disease after blood stem cell transplant
A study to see if giving fecal transplant along with dietary fiber helps gut health and reduces complications in patients who have received a stem cell transplant and developed graft-versus-host disease.
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Using medium-chain fatty acids and a fat-sensing receptor to treat chronic graft-versus-host disease
This project looks at whether changing medium‑chain fatty acids or blocking a fat sensor called GPR84 can help people with chronic graft‑versus‑host disease after a bone marrow/stem cell transplant.
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Microbiome-based oral therapy for gut GVHD after stem cell transplant
Researchers are testing an oral live Biotherapeutic Product to help the gut microbiome improve graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplant patients.
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How the protein ID3 controls donor T cells that cause GVHD and fight leukemia
Researchers are looking at whether changing the activity of a protein called ID3 in donor T cells can lower graft-versus-host disease while keeping those cells able to attack leukemia after a stem cell transplant.
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.