Restore brain-gut balance in kids through targeted therapy
Official title: Autonomic Reactivity to Restore a Dysregulated Brain-Gut Axis via Targeted Therapy
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11360673 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A child-focused research project is testing a targeted approach to fix autonomic brain-gut signals in young people with gut-brain problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | July 16, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $420,508 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140255-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360673 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are children and adolescents with disorders like cyclic vomiting syndrome or functional dyspepsia showing autonomic dysregulation and GI symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without clear autonomic dysregulation or those not experiencing GI symptoms related to brain-gut signaling may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the brain and gut communicate in children with gut-brain interaction disorders and aims to correct autonomic nervous system imbalances. By focusing on brainstem pathways, researchers hope to identify a targeted therapy that can reduce symptoms like vomiting, nausea, and anxiety. The study will explore how sleep, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms relate to gut motility and autonomic function, using approaches that involve pediatric patients and non-invasive assessments. If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that address the root brain-gut dysregulation rather than just GI symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children with gut-brain disorders could experience fewer episodes, improved daily functioning, and better quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown ANS involvement in pediatric gut-brain disorders, but targeted brainstem therapies are still experimental and early.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karrento, Katja Kristina — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Karrento, Katja Kristina
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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.