Understanding how gut microbes influence cancer and immune responses
Official title: Defining novel mechanisms of microbiota in regulating anti-tumor responses
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11457151 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist at Rutgers is studying how the microbes in our gut affect cancer growth and the body’s response to cancer immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00CA290052-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457151 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer who are treated with immunotherapies and whose gut microbiota could influence treatment outcomes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer biology or treatment is not affected by gut microbiota may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will explore how gut microbiota interact with the host to influence tumor growth and the effectiveness of immunotherapies. Using existing data and new findings, the research will identify two new pathways where microbiota and the immune system communicate to shape anti-tumor activity. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new ways to boost cancer treatments by manipulating gut microbes. Results may open doors to microbiome-based strategies to improve patient outcomes in cancer therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to microbiome-based approaches that enhance cancer treatment responses in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked microbiota to immune responses and cancer treatment, but the exact mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lyu, Mengze — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lyu, Mengze
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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.