Understanding Gout and High Uric Acid Through Body Chemistry and Gut Bacteria
Official title: NOVEL METABOLITE AND MICROBIOTA PATHWAYS FOR HYPERURICEMIA AND GOUT
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11064865 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand how body chemistry and gut bacteria contribute to high uric acid and gout, a painful form of arthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2013 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $639,196 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR065944-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064865 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related studies might include adults aged 21 and older, particularly those with hyperuricemia or gout, including African American individuals.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have hyperuricemia or gout, or those not interested in research focused on metabolic and microbial pathways, may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Gout is a painful type of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the body, and it's becoming more common globally. While we know lifestyle and genes play a role, it's still unclear why some people with high uric acid get gout and others don't, and why men are more affected than women. This work looks closely at the body's natural chemicals (metabolites) and gut bacteria to uncover new ways they might influence gout development and inflammation. By exploring these connections, we hope to find better ways to predict, prevent, and treat this condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict who will develop gout, prevent its progression, and develop more effective treatments by targeting specific body chemicals or gut bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific combination of metabolite and microbiota pathways for gout is novel, previous research has successfully identified genetic and lifestyle risk factors for gout.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, Hyon K — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Choi, Hyon K
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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.