Understanding how gut health affects inflammatory arthritis
Official title: Role of the gut barrier in inflammatory arthritis
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10950024 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the health of your gut affects inflammatory arthritis, especially how antibiotics might change your gut bacteria and increase joint inflammation, and it hopes to find out if adding certain fatty acids back into your diet can help ease arthritis symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $143,949 |
| NIH project number | 1K08AR084597-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10950024 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis, particularly those who have recently used antibiotics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have inflammatory arthritis or those who have not used antibiotics may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between gut health and inflammatory arthritis, focusing on how antibiotic use can disrupt gut bacteria and lead to increased inflammation in the joints. The study aims to explore the role of short chain fatty acids produced by gut bacteria and how their loss may affect gut permeability and inflammation. By utilizing advanced sequencing technologies, the researchers will analyze the cellular responses in the gut and joints to better understand the mechanisms behind arthritis severity. The ultimate goal is to determine if supplementing with these fatty acids can help reduce arthritis symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating inflammatory arthritis by targeting gut health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated a link between gut health and autoimmune diseases, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Fang — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Fang
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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.