Understanding how the brain and nerves affect gastroparesis symptoms
New England Gastropareis Consortium: Neurobiology of Gastroparesis
This project will look at biological and psychological causes of chronic gastroparesis and try a cognitive behavioral therapy approach to help people with ongoing nausea, vomiting, fullness, and pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159453 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a New England network that enrolls people with gastroparesis into a shared registry and several multi-center projects. Clinic visits include medical history, symptom questionnaires, and may include biological samples or tests that look at gut and nervous system function. The team will profile psychological and social factors such as anxiety and behavior alongside nerve and brain changes to understand what keeps symptoms going. The site will also pilot a cognitive behavioral therapy program to see if addressing thoughts and behaviors can reduce symptoms and improve daily life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with chronic gastroparesis who experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, early satiety, fullness, or abdominal pain and who can attend visits at participating centers would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People whose symptoms are caused by a mechanical blockage, those with very recent/acute onset without chronic disease, or those unable to take part in clinic visits or behavioral therapy may not receive benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments—including behavioral therapy—that reduce nausea, vomiting, pain, and improve quality of life for people with gastroparesis.
How similar studies have performed: Behavioral therapies have helped related functional gastrointestinal disorders, but applying cognitive behavioral therapy specifically to gastroparesis is relatively new and mostly supported by early/pilot data.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burton Murray, Helen — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Burton Murray, Helen
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 below.