Understanding memory in the gut's nervous system
Official title: Memory in the enteric nervous system
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10937705 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into whether the nerves in your gut can remember things, just like your brain does, and it aims to find out how things like what you eat and the bacteria in your stomach might affect these memories, which could help us understand gut-related health issues better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $747,500 |
| NIH project number | 1DP1DK140021-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10937705 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from gastrointestinal diseases or disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-gastrointestinal related conditions may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates whether the enteric nervous system (ENS), which governs the gastrointestinal tract, can form memories similar to those in the brain. By using animal models, the study aims to explore how the ENS responds to various gastrointestinal stimuli and whether these responses can be characterized as memories. The researchers will develop tools to study these enteric neural engrams and examine how factors like diet and microbes influence memory formation in the ENS. This could lead to new insights into gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to novel treatments for gastrointestinal disorders by enhancing our understanding of how the gut's nervous system functions.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of memory in the brain is well-established, the exploration of memory in the enteric nervous system is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thaiss, Christoph Alexander — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Thaiss, Christoph Alexander
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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.