TREM1-targeted immune therapy to lower gut inflammation in older adults with ulcerative colitis
Official title: An Innovative Immune Therapy Targeting the TREM1-Inflammation Pathway to Alleviate Excess Inflammation in Ulcerative Colitis of Geriatric Patients
Funded at Bioprovar Corporation · NIH-11195660 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a treatment that blocks the TREM1 inflammation pathway to reduce colon inflammation in older adults with ulcerative colitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Bioprovar Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $178,503 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AG087800-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195660 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with active ulcerative colitis, especially those with persistent inflammation despite current medications, would be the most relevant future candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without active ulcerative colitis, those with Crohn's disease (a different condition), or patients whose disease is well controlled on current therapy are unlikely to benefit from this specific therapy.
What this research studies
The team is creating a therapy that targets excess TREM1 activity, a driver of overactive macrophage and neutrophil responses in ulcerative colitis. They will develop agents that act on a natural TREM1 splice variant and test them in laboratory assays and animal models while analyzing patient-derived samples for TREM1-related markers. Outcomes measured will include reductions in inflammatory signals and tissue injury linked to macrophage and neutrophil activation. If preclinical results are promising, the work could move toward early human testing focused on older patients who do not respond well to current treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce harmful intestinal inflammation and offer a new option for older adults with ulcerative colitis who fail existing therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Targeting the TREM1 pathway has shown promising results in many laboratory and animal studies, but therapeutic use in humans remains early-stage and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Bioprovar Corporation
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roussel, Eugene — Bioprovar Corporation
- Study coordinator: Roussel, Eugene
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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.