Understanding gut bacteria in Parkinson's disease
Official title: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study of gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11168942 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how gut bacteria might be connected to Parkinson's disease in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $738,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK140936-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168942 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is looking for people with Parkinson's disease who have different ages of onset, clinical symptoms, and disease severity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not diagnosed with Parkinson's disease would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people with Parkinson's disease experience constipation before other symptoms appear, suggesting a link between gut health and the brain. This project aims to understand if changes in gut bacteria, called dysbiosis, cause or result from Parkinson's disease. We will look at gut bacteria and their byproducts in people with Parkinson's at different stages and with varying symptoms. By collecting clinical information and stool samples over time, we hope to uncover how gut bacteria influence the disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict, prevent, or treat Parkinson's disease by targeting gut bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: The idea of a "Gut Microbiome-Brain Axis" in Parkinson's disease is a growing area of interest, with other research also exploring this connection.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Tao — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Xie, Tao
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
-
Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: biomarkers and procedures to track progression
A patient-focused program to study how gut health and the brain interact in Parkinson’s disease using biomarkers and clinical procedures.
-
Gut microbiome clues for Parkinson’s disease progression
A study looks at how gut bacteria and their chemicals relate to Parkinson’s disease over time to find potential biomarkers and new treatment ideas.
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Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease and how they relate to disease severity and progression
A study at Rush University Medical Center will look at how gut health and brain disease interact in people with Parkinson’s to better understand how the illness grows and gets worse.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease
This project looks at gut bacteria and the chemicals they make in people with Parkinson's disease over time to find patterns linked to symptoms and progression.
-
Gut–brain connections in Parkinson's disease
This project adds gut and brain tests to look for gut-based signs that track Parkinson's disease progression in people living with Parkinson's.
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.