Understanding how the gut's immune system protects against infections
Official title: Gut complement system: Induction and protection against enteric infection
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-11050187 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how gut bacteria help our immune system fight infections, especially in kids, by focusing on a protein called C3, and it will also check these findings in healthy people to see how they apply to everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 24, 2025 |
| Project end | May 8, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $790,356 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI181938-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11050187 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who are at risk for enteric infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with established chronic gastrointestinal diseases or those over 11 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the complement system in the gut, which is crucial for defending against infections. By using advanced techniques such as gnotobiotic mouse models and single-cell RNA sequencing, the study aims to understand how local production of a key protein, C3, is influenced by gut bacteria. The findings could reveal how variations in gut health affect the body's ability to fight off enteric infections, particularly in children. The research also includes validation studies with healthy human subjects to confirm the relevance of these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing and treating infectious diarrhea in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the gut's immune response, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kasper, Dennis L. — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Kasper, Dennis L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Comparing End-of-Life Care for Older Adults Across Richer Countries
Aims to understand how end-of-life care for older adults with serious illnesses differs in the US compared with other high-income countries.
-
Comparing End-of-Life Care for Older Adults Across Rich Countries
A study compares how end-of-life care is handled for older adults in the US and other high-income countries to identify what might improve care here.
-
Comparing End-of-Life Care for Older Adults in Rich Countries
A large study from Harvard Medical School compares how older adults near the end of life are cared for in the US and other top-income countries to understand differences and improve care.
-
Comparing End-of-Life Care for Older Adults Across Rich Countries
A study using international data to understand how end-of-life care for older adults with poor prognoses differs across five high‑income countries.
-
Comparing End-of-Life Care for Older Adults Across Rich Countries
A research project compares how older adults with serious illnesses receive end-of-life care in the US and other high-income countries to find ways to improve care in the United States.
-
Comparing End-of-Life Care for Older Adults Across Rich Countries
A project compares how older adults near the end of life are cared for in the U.S. and other high-income countries to identify ways to improve care and reduce wasteful spending.
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.