Understanding Differences in Gut Microbes and Their Impact
Causes and consequences of interpersonal microbial variation
This project explores how the tiny living organisms in our gut, called microbes, differ from person to person and how these differences affect our health and how medicines work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11088836 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our gut is home to trillions of tiny microbes, and the mix of these microbes varies greatly among individuals. We want to understand what causes these differences and how they influence our health, our risk for certain diseases, and how our bodies react to medicines. To do this, we use advanced lab techniques, including microbial genetics and mass spectrometry, along with special animal models to carefully examine how gut microbes interact with our bodies. We also look at how these microbes process both medicines and components of the food we eat, aiming to uncover fundamental principles of these interactions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future studies building on this work may seek individuals interested in gut health or drug metabolism.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to new ways to improve health, prevent diseases, or personalize drug treatments by understanding and potentially adjusting a person's gut microbiome.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has successfully used these approaches to measure the microbiome's role in drug metabolism and define microbial interactions, providing a strong foundation for these future studies.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goodman, Andrew L — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Goodman, Andrew L
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 below.