NIH-funded research Fellowship grant

Understanding how diet influences gut bacteria and their metabolism

Official title: Dissecting the effect of diet on gut microbiome metabolism

Funded at Princeton University · NIH-10997937 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how what you eat, like protein and fiber, can change the bacteria in your gut and the helpful substances they produce, which could help people with gut health issues like inflammatory bowel disease and obesity.

More Gut Microbiome research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPrinceton University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES)
Project startDecember 16, 2024
Project endDecember 15, 2028
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$32,974
NIH project number1F30DK139739-01A1
Project IDNIH-10997937 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions influenced by gut microbiome metabolism, such as inflammatory bowel disease or obesity.

Less likely to help

Patients with no gastrointestinal issues or those not interested in dietary modifications may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates how different dietary components, such as protein and fiber, affect the metabolism of gut bacteria and the production of important metabolites like indole and phenol. By using advanced techniques like liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing, the study aims to explore how dietary modifications can change the composition of gut microbiota and their metabolic outputs. The findings could provide insights into how diet can be used to manage conditions related to gut health, such as inflammatory bowel disease and obesity.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to dietary recommendations that improve gut health and manage microbiome-related diseases.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that dietary changes can significantly impact gut microbiome composition and function, suggesting a promising avenue for further exploration.

Where this research is happening

  • Princeton University
    Princeton, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Abusalim, Jenna — Princeton University
  • Study coordinator: Abusalim, Jenna

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Multi-agent AI to annotate enzymes in the human gut microbiome

    A team at a major university will build an AI system that automatically curates and labels the functions of enzymes in the human gut microbiome to speed up understanding their health effects.

    NIH research University of South Florida · Tampa, United States · NIH-11594384

  • Mapping how gut bacteria transform drugs

    Scientists will study how the gut microbiome changes thousands of drugs into new forms, which could affect how well a medicine works or whether it causes side effects.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11550022

  • Aflatoxin exposure and child growth in Guatemala

    A study in rural Guatemala will track how exposure to aflatoxin relates to growth and gut health in young children.

    NIH research Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · Scottsdale, United States · NIH-11513260

  • Gut bacteria that can make cancer immunotherapy less effective

    This project will see if reducing chronic inflammation driven by certain gut bacteria can help immunotherapy work better for people whose cancers have stopped responding.

    NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11478145

  • How gut bacteria affect how cancer drugs work

    This project looks at how the bacteria in your gut might change how well and with what side effects fluoropyrimidine cancer drugs like 5-FU work in people.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11473234

  • Gut bacteria and cancer drugs: how your gut may change chemotherapy effectiveness

    This project studies how the gut microbiome might affect how well certain chemotherapy drugs work and their side effects in people with cancer.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11473233

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.