Stabilized probiotics for tube‑feeding formulas
Official title: Stabilization of therapeutic microbes for inclusion in a liquid matrix for delivery to the intestines
Funded at Vitakey, INC. · NIH-11256307 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing a way to keep helpful probiotic microbes alive in liquid tube‑feeding formulas so people on enteral feeding can get gut protection even while taking antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vitakey, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,437,278 |
| NIH project number | 2R44GM146506-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11256307 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people who receive liquid enteral (tube) feeding and are currently taking or expected to take systemic antibiotics.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use enteral feeding or who have contraindications to probiotics—such as severe immunosuppression or certain critical‑care infections—may not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
If you rely on tube feeding and take antibiotics, this team is working to add probiotics directly into ready‑to‑use liquid feeding formulas in a form that survives storage and the digestive tract. They plan to create a protective liquid matrix around the microbes and run laboratory tests to measure how long the probiotics stay alive in formula and during antibiotic exposure. The project includes simulated digestion and preclinical testing to show the microbes can reach the intestines intact. The goal is to confirm the probiotics can help prevent antibiotic‑associated diarrhea and support nutrient absorption.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce antibiotic‑associated diarrhea, improve nutrient absorption, and improve quality of life for people on enteral feeding.
How similar studies have gone: Previous probiotic trials for antibiotic‑associated diarrhea have had mixed results, and putting stabilized probiotics directly into liquid tube‑feeding formulas is a relatively new approach with limited clinical data.
Where this research is happening
-
Vitakey, INC.
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anselmo, Aaron C — Vitakey, INC.
- Study coordinator: Anselmo, Aaron C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stabilizing therapeutic microbes to deliver in liquid nutrition for the gut
A small grant is funding work to make beneficial microbes stable enough to be mixed into liquid feeding formulas for patients who cannot eat on their own.
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New method to deliver beneficial microbes for premature infants
This study is working on a new way to safely deliver helpful bacteria in powder form to preterm babies at risk for a serious gut condition called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), aiming to make sure they get the right amount of these probiotics to support their health.
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Targeted delivery of proteins to the intestines for treating inflammatory bowel diseases
This study is working on a new way to deliver medicine directly to the intestines to help people with inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis, making treatments more effective and easier on the body.
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.