Next-generation physiology tools for human gut microbiome research
Official title: Developing Next-Generation Physiology approaches for human gut microbiome research
Funded at Montana State University - Bozeman · NIH-11364207 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing cutting-edge, single-cell methods to study how gut microbes function in their natural, in-body environment to better understand gut health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $360,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147166-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364207 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals undergoing gut biopsy or GI procedures who have or are at risk for gut-related conditions could potentially benefit from insights gained.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those not participating in GI biopsies may not directly benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
This grant aims to bring single-cell precision to studying the human gut microbiome, focusing on how individual microbes behave within the mucosal environment. The team will use advanced techniques like substrate analog probing, bioorthogonal labeling, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, together with cell-sorting, to map metabolic activity in gut microbes. By studying biopsy samples directly from the GI tract, the project seeks to preserve spatial context and inter-microbial relationships that bulk methods miss. The ultimate goal is to reveal how specific microbes contribute to gut function and health in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from a deeper understanding of gut microbiome function that informs new diagnostics or therapies for GI conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Single-cell approaches are rapidly advancing in microbiome research, with promising results in related fields, but this application to human gut mucosal samples is an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
-
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hatzenpichler, Roland — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: Hatzenpichler, Roland
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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.