Nitrate and microbiota balance for better health
Official title: Role of nitrate in microbiota ecology
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11386637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project investigates how the mineral nitrate influences the balance of helpful and potentially harmful microbes in areas like the gut and mouth, with hopes of improving health such as blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $442,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM160210-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with conditions related to microbiota-associated health, such as cardiovascular risk, could be relevant future participants.
✕Less likely to help
If someone has conditions unrelated to microbiota balance or nitrate metabolism, they may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If successful, this work will map how nitrate shapes the community of microbes that live on our barriers (mouth, skin, gut) and how those microbes interact with our bodies. The team plans to study how nitrate-driven changes in microbes affect the health of the host, particularly through metabolites that could influence barrier integrity and systemic health. Over five years, the project will combine microbial analysis and metabolic studies to uncover mechanisms by which nitrate promotes a healthier microbial balance. This work could lead to new ways to support health by controlling our microbiota through dietary or therapeutic means.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to strategies that harness nitrate to promote a healthier microbiota and better cardiovascular health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest microbiota composition and metabolites influence host health, with nitrate showing potential to promote beneficial microbes.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stacy, Apollo — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Stacy, Apollo
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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.