Microplastics, gut inflammation, and mood in digestive disease (animal study)
Official title: Microplastic biodistribution and impact on mental health during inflammatory bowel disease
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11374032 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how tiny plastic particles might affect mood-related behavior in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2026 |
| Project end | August 6, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $140,048 |
| NIH project number | 1R03ES037766-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374032 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with inflammatory bowel disease in the future, though this grant uses animal models for now.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not expected from the animal study itself.
What this research studies
Researchers will feed microplastics to animals with a model of inflammatory bowel disease to see if gut barrier disruption and tissue inflammation influence behavior or mood-related outcomes. The study will measure gut permeability, inflammatory markers, and behavioral changes that could reflect brain health. Findings could point to mechanisms linking environmental plastics to mental well-being in people with gut diseases. The work focuses on understanding a possible gut-brain connection in the context of IBD and microplastic exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how environmental plastics might contribute to mood changes in people with inflammatory bowel disease and guide future translational studies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests microplastics can affect gut and brain inflammation; this grant aims to explore that link in an IBD model.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Busbee, Philip Brandon — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Busbee, Philip Brandon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
RECLAIM: A one-day ACT program to help veterans with inflammatory bowel disease and mental health challenges
A quick, practical ACT-based program delivered in GI clinics to help veterans with IBD manage symptoms and improve mood and quality of life.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
-
Long-term HIV prevention and mental health support for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda
A long-term program in rural Uganda tests if combining economic support and family strengthening helps teenage girls stay HIV-free and improve mental health as they grow into young adults.
-
Johns Hopkins Total Worker Health Center focusing on mental health
A nationwide center at Johns Hopkins is working to improve mental health and well-being among workers by studying workplace health strategies and translating findings into practical tools.
-
Maternal mental health help to protect kids’ breathing health
A mother-focused mental health program is tested to see if improving moms’ mood can also support better breathing and fewer asthma symptoms in children.
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.