Understanding Gut Nerve Damage
Mechanism of Enteric Neuropathy
['FUNDING_R01'] · EMORY UNIVERSITY · NIH-11145761
This project looks at how a Western diet might harm the nerves in your gut, which can lead to problems like constipation.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | EMORY UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ATLANTA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11145761 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The nerves in our gut are crucial for digestion, and when they are damaged, it can cause issues like constipation, especially as we age or with conditions like diabetes. This project explores how a diet high in fat, often called a Western diet, might cause these gut nerves to degenerate. Researchers believe that too much iron inside these nerve cells could be a key factor, leading to a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis. They are studying this process in both lab-grown nerve cells, including human ones, and in mice fed a Western diet, to understand exactly how this damage happens.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients experiencing chronic constipation, especially those with conditions like aging or diabetes, might eventually benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose gut motility issues are not related to nerve degeneration or a Western diet may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat gut motility problems like constipation by targeting the specific pathways that cause nerve damage.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific link between a Western diet, iron, and ferroptosis in enteric neuropathy is being further detailed here, general research on diet's impact on gut health and neuronal degeneration has shown promising directions.
Where this research is happening
ATLANTA, UNITED STATES
- EMORY UNIVERSITY — ATLANTA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SRINIVASAN, SHANTHI K — EMORY UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: SRINIVASAN, SHANTHI K
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.