Oral probiotic that delivers interferon‑beta to protect the gut from radiation
Official title: Investigation of the mechanisms of H-ARS mitigation by the orally administrated GI-ARS mitigator LR-IFN-beta
Funded at Chromologic, LLC · NIH-11248764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An oral probiotic engineered to release interferon‑beta in the small intestine to help people exposed to high doses of radiation avoid life‑threatening gut damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Chromologic, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Monrovia, United States) |
| Project start | December 17, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,139 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI187044-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People at risk of or recently exposed to high‑dose radiation that threatens the gut, and patients undergoing abdominal radiotherapy who need intestinal protection.
✕Less likely to help
People who are severely immunocompromised, allergic to probiotic products, or who only have non‑GI radiation injury may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would take an oral probiotic made from Limosilactobacillus reuteri that has been engineered to produce interferon‑beta directly in your small intestine. The probiotic is intended to protect and regenerate radiation‑sensitive intestinal stem cells and crypts that cause severe gastrointestinal (GI) acute radiation syndrome. So far the approach has been tested in animal models and produced much higher survival after radiation doses that cause GI and hematopoietic ARS. If translated to people, this could be used after a radiological incident or to reduce gut side effects during abdominal radiotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could prevent fatal intestinal injury after high‑dose radiation and reduce GI toxicity from abdominal radiotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Existing cytokine drugs have improved blood‑related ARS but no FDA‑approved mitigator for GI‑ARS exists, and using engineered probiotics for gut delivery is a novel approach with promising preclinical (animal) results.
Where this research is happening
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Chromologic, LLC
Monrovia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogers, Claude J. — Chromologic, LLC
- Study coordinator: Rogers, Claude J.
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.