Understanding and treating gut complications from blood stem cell transplants
Official title: Pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of corticosteroid-resistant gut GVHD
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11014395 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some patients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after a blood stem cell transplant have gut issues that don't get better with standard steroid treatments, and it's hoping to find new ways to help those patients feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $771,055 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL162847-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11014395 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and are experiencing gut GVHD that does not respond to corticosteroid therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have gut GVHD or those whose GVHD is responsive to corticosteroid treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a condition that can occur after blood stem cell transplants, particularly when it affects the gut and resists standard corticosteroid treatments. The team aims to uncover the biological mechanisms behind this steroid-resistant gut GVHD and develop new strategies for prevention and treatment. Using a specialized mouse model, they are investigating how corticosteroid treatment alters immune cell behavior and gut microbiota, which may contribute to the severity of the condition. The findings could lead to innovative therapies that improve outcomes for patients suffering from this challenging complication.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new treatment options for patients with corticosteroid-resistant gut GVHD, improving their quality of life and health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding and treating GVHD, but this specific approach to steroid-resistant gut GVHD is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
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Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zeng, Defu — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Zeng, Defu
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.