Understanding how gut bacteria affect fecal microbiota transplantation for C. difficile infections
Official title: Functional Redundancy of Human Microbiome and its Implication in Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10668456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in our guts can affect the success of a treatment called fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for people with recurring C. difficile infections, and it aims to help improve this treatment for better health outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $894,266 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI141529-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10668456 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing recurrent C. difficile infections who may be considering fecal microbiota transplantation as a treatment option.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have recurrent C. difficile infections or those who are not candidates for fecal microbiota transplantation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of gut microbiota in human health, particularly focusing on how the composition of these microorganisms can influence the success of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in treating recurrent C. difficile infections. By analyzing the ecological principles that govern gut microbiota, the study aims to predict how well donor bacteria can integrate into a patient's gut and improve treatment outcomes. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to more effective FMT therapies and better management of gut-related diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for patients suffering from recurrent C. difficile infections and potentially other microbiome-related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using fecal microbiota transplantation for treating C. difficile infections, suggesting that this approach may yield significant insights into microbiome therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yang-Yu — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yang-Yu
Related research
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-
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This project gives capsule fecal microbiota transplants to adults with auto-brewery syndrome to try to stop their gut from producing alcohol and causing unexplained intoxication.
-
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This research explores if a special type of fecal microbiota transplant, guided by specific gut enzyme activity, can safely and effectively improve symptoms for adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome that developed after an infection.
-
Using gut bacteria to improve cancer treatment for solid tumors
This research explores if changing gut bacteria through fecal microbiota transplantation can help immune checkpoint medicines work better for people with solid tumors.
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.