Nociceptor nerves, gut inflammation, and tissue protection in IBD
Official title: Nociceptor regulation of intestinal inflammation and tissue protection
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11590846 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how pain-sensing nerves in the gut help protect tissue and how they may go awry in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 11, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DK138295-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11590846 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) or related gut inflammation where nociceptor pathways might be involved.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without gut inflammation or those outside the study’s human-relevant mechanisms may not benefit.
What this research studies
This research explores how pain-sensing nerves in the intestines influence inflammation and tissue repair in IBD. Using interdisciplinary methods from neurobiology, gastroenterology, immunology, and microbiology, the project aims to map cellular and molecular pathways that connect nerves, immune responses, and gut bacteria. The goal is to uncover new neuro-immune-microbiota interactions that could reveal targets for therapies to reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing in patients with IBD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new approaches to treat IBD by modulating nerve signals to reduce inflammation and support tissue repair.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data and related studies in neuro-immune interactions suggest that nerves can influence gut inflammation, indicating potential for impact with this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Wen — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Wen
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.