Understanding how animal microbiomes are regulated and connected to health
Official title: Development and regulation of the systemic microbiome in the model animal host, Euprymna scolopes
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11331348 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers study how different microbiomes in a model animal, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, are controlled and how they influence health, development, and the immune system, with potential clues for human health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $333,240 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM163901-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11331348 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to a specific patient population; basic research in a model organism.
✕Less likely to help
Direct clinical benefits to patients are not guaranteed from this animal-model study.
What this research studies
This grant uses the Hawaiian bobtail squid to explore how multiple microbiomes are managed by the host’s innate immune system. It looks at how these microbial communities affect blood cell development, mucosal tissues, and organ formation. The project also develops gene editing methods in a squid-bacteria system to study host-microbe interactions in controlled, germ-free conditions. Findings could reveal general principles of systemic microbiome regulation that may inform human health and disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gains in understanding microbiome regulation could guide new approaches to preventing or managing human diseases linked to microbial communities.
How similar studies have gone: prior similar work in model organisms has shown that microbiomes can be globally regulated and influence development, supporting the potential relevance to human biology.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nyholm, Spencer Victor — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Nyholm, Spencer Victor
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.