Oral probiotic to protect and repair the intestines after radiation
Official title: Mitigation of Ionizing Irradiation-Induced Intestinal Damage by Second-Generation Probiotic LR-IFN-β
Funded at Chromologic, LLC · NIH-11070021 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An engineered probiotic that delivers a healing protein to people whose intestines are damaged by radiation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Chromologic, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Monrovia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,015,000 |
| NIH project number | 2R42AI157357-03A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070021 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People exposed to high-dose radiation causing or at high risk for gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome, and patients receiving abdominal radiotherapy who are at risk for intestinal toxicity, would be the primary candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with intestinal problems not caused by radiation and individuals who cannot take live probiotics (for example, some severely immunocompromised patients) may not benefit or may be ineligible.
What this research studies
This project uses a specially engineered Limosilactobacillus reuteri probiotic that makes the therapeutic protein IFN-β and is given by mouth to target the small intestine. In animal tests it helped recover intestinal stem cells, regenerate radiation-sensitive crypts, and greatly increased survival after doses that cause gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome. The approach is intended both for use after a radiological/nuclear exposure and to reduce gut injury during abdominal radiotherapy. The current development is led by a small company and clinical testing would be needed to confirm safety and benefit in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the probiotic could prevent or repair radiation-induced gut damage, cut deaths from GI-ARS, and reduce intestinal side effects from abdominal radiotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: The strategy of engineered probiotics delivering therapeutic proteins is novel for GI-ARS and has shown strong survival benefits in animal models, but no FDA-approved probiotic mitigator for GI-ARS exists yet.
Where this research is happening
-
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.