Oral immunotherapy using engineered bacteria to treat ulcerative colitis
Official title: A Novel Synthetically Engineered Oral Immunotherapy for Treating Ulcerative Colitis
Funded at Rise Therapeutics, LLC · NIH-11371157 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, lab-made cellular medicine using friendly gut bacteria aims to reduce inflammation in adults with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease by strengthening the intestinal barrier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rise Therapeutics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rockville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 16, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $811,362 |
| NIH project number | 5SB1DK141356-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371157 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease) who are candidates for novel biologic-like therapies and meet study-safe criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not respond to this specific engineered therapy or may experience side effects during early development.
What this research studies
This project develops a synthetic biology-based cellular therapy that uses natural gut bacteria pathways to curb inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. It focuses on safely delivering anti-inflammatory signals to help restore the gut lining and reduce disease activity in adults. Researchers will leverage surface proteins from commensal bacteria to interact with gut immune sensors, aiming for a treatment that is effective and has fewer side effects than some current therapies. The work involves preclinical development, optimization of the engineered cells, and studies of safety and mechanism in models relevant to human disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience reduced bowel inflammation and fewer symptoms, potentially improving quality of life and disease management.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research on microbiome-based approaches has shown promise in reducing gut inflammation in preclinical settings, with ongoing evaluation in human-relevant models.
Where this research is happening
-
Rise Therapeutics, LLC
Rockville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Gary — Rise Therapeutics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Gary
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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An Oral Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis
This project is creating a new oral medicine that uses natural gut bacteria to calm inflammation for people with inflammatory bowel disease, like ulcerative colitis.
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A new oral treatment for ulcerative colitis using synthetic biology.
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Outpatient pathway for severe ulcerative colitis in the right care setting
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IMYX-3 treatment for ulcerative colitis
A new therapy approach called IMYX-3 aims to help adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis who have not responded well to current treatments.
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Autoantibodies and ulcerative colitis: how avb6 antibodies may drive disease
This NIH grant aims to understand how antibodies against a gut cell protein (αvβ6) may actively contribute to ulcerative colitis and what that means for future treatments.
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.