Using engineered viruses to improve gene therapy for gut bacteria
Official title: Engineering non-replicating self-recirculating phages as platform for gene therapy of the microbiome
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11140113 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to use specially designed viruses to help deliver helpful genetic material to good bacteria in your gut, with the goal of creating better treatments for gut health issues and inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 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 | May 13, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $233,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI185808-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11140113 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would include individuals with gastrointestinal disorders or those interested in therapies targeting gut microbiome health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to the gut microbiome or those who do not have a significant microbial component to their health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of engineered virus, known as non-replicating phages, to deliver genetic material specifically to beneficial bacteria in the human gut microbiome. By enhancing the ability to modify these bacteria, the research aims to create targeted therapies that can address various health issues linked to gut microbiome imbalances. The approach involves overcoming current limitations of existing viral vectors, which often have low delivery efficiency and safety concerns. Patients may benefit from improved treatments for conditions related to gut health and inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective therapies for managing gut-related health issues by precisely targeting and modifying beneficial gut bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of engineered phages for gene therapy is a novel approach, there have been successful applications of similar viral vector technologies in other areas of gene therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lai, Samuel — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Lai, Samuel
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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.