Understanding and Treating Constipation in Cystic Fibrosis and Older Adults
Official title: Inhibition of an Apical cAMP/cGMP Transporter (MRP4) in the Gut Induces Diarrhea
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11092905 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores new ways to help patients with cystic fibrosis and older adults who experience chronic constipation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2009 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $579,373 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK080834-18 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092905 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related studies might include patients with cystic fibrosis experiencing gastrointestinal complications and older adults with chronic constipation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cystic fibrosis-related gastrointestinal issues or chronic constipation would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many patients with cystic fibrosis face ongoing digestive problems, including severe constipation, due to issues with a protein called CFTR. Additionally, chronic constipation is a common concern for a significant portion of the general population, especially older adults. This project aims to understand how certain protein complexes in the gut, called CFTR-MRP4, contribute to these constipation issues. By studying cells from patients, we hope to find new ways to restore normal fluid balance in the intestines and relieve constipation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that alleviate or even cure chronic constipation for individuals with cystic fibrosis and the elderly.
How similar studies have gone: This research builds upon previous findings and preliminary data, suggesting a foundation of prior work in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Naren, Anjaparavanda P — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Naren, Anjaparavanda P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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PediCODE: A Biorepository and Consortium for CoDE - Congenital Diarrhea and Enteropathy
A nationwide effort to collect clinical data and patient-derived samples to uncover the genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy and to build a resource that helps researchers study these diseases.
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PediCODE Consortium and Biobank for Congenital Diarrhea and Enteropathy
Creating a multi-center team and biobank to find genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy in children and collect samples that can help future research.
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Mobile health tool to guide dehydration care for acute diarrhea across all ages
A mobile app uses AI to help people of all ages determine dehydration risk during acute diarrhea and guide rehydration decisions.
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Understanding how certain gut bacteria cause diarrhea in children and how it works in the gut lining
This project looks at how infections from ETEC and EPEC bacteria cause diarrhea, especially in children, and uses a mouse model and human-derived gut cell systems to uncover the underlying mechanisms.
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Targeting a gut transporter to help relieve constipation in CF and older adults
Aimed at helping people with cystic fibrosis and older adults who have chronic constipation by studying a gut transporter to improve intestinal fluid balance.
-
Targeting gut drug processing to prevent diarrhea from mycophenolate
This project tests whether using natural gut-acting compounds to boost a specific drug-clearing pathway in the lower intestine can reduce diarrhea caused by the transplant drug mycophenolate in people who take it.
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.