Understanding how alcohol and the gut’s serotonin system affect IBS
Official title: Impact of Ethanol and Gut Microbiome in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11314772 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how alcohol and the gut’s serotonin system may influence irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms in people who have IBS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $225,688 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AA032956-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11314772 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with IBS who may experience symptoms influenced by gut serotonin and alcohol exposure.
✕Less likely to help
People without IBS or IBS without relevant serotonin-alcohol interactions may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have IBS, this study explores how drinking alcohol might interact with the gut’s serotonin system to affect IBS symptoms. Researchers will use basic lab work with human-derived samples to understand how alcohol activates 5-HT3 receptors in the gut and how this could change gut function and discomfort. The findings could point to new ways to tailor diets or therapies for IBS patients who drink alcohol. The study is concentrated on mechanisms in the human gut that could translate into better, more targeted treatments in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to clearer guidance on alcohol use for IBS patients and inform new treatment strategies that target the gut serotonin system.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked gut serotonin signaling to IBS symptoms, but the gut-specific role of alcohol as a 5-HT3 receptor activator is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cresci, Gail Ann — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Cresci, Gail Ann
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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.