Preventing Growth Problems in At-Risk Kids by Treating SIBO in Bangladesh
Official title: A Phase II Trial to Prevent Linear Growth Stunting and Malnutrition in Impoverished Children from a Low-Income Country by Treating Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11417903 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at helping under-2 to 11-year-old children in urban Bangladesh, this study tests a treatment plan for small intestine bacterial overgrowth to improve growth and nutrition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $359,012 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD113733-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417903 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children in urban Bangladesh with SIBO and malnutrition, particularly those under 2 years of age, may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Children without SIBO or malnutrition, or those not meeting study criteria, may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in children and seeks to find the best pediatric treatment to reverse malnutrition and improve growth. Researchers will study how the gut bacteria in SIBO affect metabolism and growth, using a population with a high rate of SIBO to inform care. The study will compare treatment regimens suitable for young children, including those where rifaximin cannot be used, and assess outcomes related to nutrition and health. The goal is to identify effective strategies that could translate to better growth and fewer complications in children with SIBO.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to clearer, more effective treatments for malnutrition linked to SIBO in children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show SIBO is linked to poor growth, but this pediatric, location-specific trial seeks optimized regimens and direct growth outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Donowitz, Jeffrey Ryan — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Donowitz, Jeffrey Ryan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Azithromycin added to standard care for kids with severe malnutrition in Africa
This project tests whether giving azithromycin as an extra antibiotic to young children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition improves weight gain and recovery compared with amoxicillin or placebo.
-
Gut-Liver-Bone clues to growth problems in malnourished children
A study in malnourished children and a mouse model looks at how the gut, liver, and bone interact to cause growth faltering and tests a bile-acid therapy that could improve growth and reduce inflammation.
-
Azithromycin adjunct in kids with severe malnutrition in Africa
A randomized trial will compare azithromycin, amoxicillin, and placebo as adjunctive antibiotics for children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition to see which supports better weight gain and recovery.
-
Digital tools to fight adolescent malnutrition in schools (low-resource settings)
A school-based mobile health approach helps younger adolescents in low-resource areas improve nutrition and health behaviors.
-
How caregiver mental health affects recovery from severe malnutrition in young children
This project will track caregivers' depression and anxiety while their children get treatment for severe acute malnutrition to learn how caregiver mental health relates to child recovery and relapse.
-
Preventing Growth Problems in Poor Children by Treating Small Intestine Bacteria
A phase II effort in urban Bangladesh tests a treatment plan to stop growth failure and malnutrition in young children by addressing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
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.