Understanding rectal and urethral STIs in MSM to improve diagnosis and vaccines
Official title: The Clinical History of Rectal and Urethral STIs among MSM: characterizing microbiome host immune interactions for diagnostic and vaccine advances
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11571357 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies the skin and gut bacteria and immune signals in men who have sex with men to help detect STIs sooner and guide vaccine development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $80,228 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI177005-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11571357 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are men who have sex with men in Kisumu and Nairobi, Kenya, aged adults at risk for urethral or anorectal STIs.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without STI risk or who do not have the study conditions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will follow 500 men who have sex with men in Kenya over a year, collecting penile and rectal microbiome samples, immune profiles, behavioral data, and STI diagnoses. They will look for links between gut bacteria, mucosal immunity, and infection risk to understand how inflammation might affect treatment and future vaccines. The study relies on sequencing bacterial communities and measuring immune markers to map how microbiomes relate to STI outcomes. It is designed to identify patterns that could lead to better diagnostics and preventive strategies for MSM communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better STI diagnostics and inform vaccine development for MSM populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked rectal microbiomes with inflammatory immune responses and STI risk, suggesting a promising but still developing area.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mehta, Supriya Dinesh — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mehta, Supriya Dinesh
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.