Understanding why some people with inflammatory bowel disease fail therapy
Official title: Immunologic and Microbial Mechanisms of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Therapy Failure
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11401051 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A physician-scientist at UNC is pursuing why inflammatory bowel disease treatment stops working so therapies can be kept effective longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $170,732 |
| NIH project number | 5K08DK144596-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401051 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
IBD patients whose disease is difficult to control or who have failed previous therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing IBD treatment changes or those not contributing samples or data.
What this research studies
This K08 grant supports training in bioinformatics and multi-omics to study the microbial and human factors that lead to therapy failure in inflammatory bowel disease. The project combines gut microbe data with host gene expression and uses statistical models to find patterns that predict loss of response. Researchers work with expert mentors and a rich GI biology and disease center to translate findings into better long-term remission strategies. The goal is to help patients avoid flare-ups and maintain comfortable, lasting control of their symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with IBD could experience longer periods of remission and fewer treatment failures.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in IBD anti-inflammatory therapy and microbiome-host interactions shows promising signals, though this specific multi-omics, mentor-driven approach is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gray, Simon Matthew — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Gray, Simon Matthew
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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.