Using gut bacteria metabolism to prevent infections
Official title: Harnessing commensal redox metabolism in infection prevention
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10991716 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the good and bad bacteria in your gut interact and how we can use that knowledge to stop harmful germs like Clostridioides difficile from growing, which could help develop new treatments to keep you healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | November 24, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $849,858 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI179807-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991716 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of infections from Clostridioides difficile, particularly those with compromised gut health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any gut-related infections or conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the metabolism of gut bacteria can influence the growth of harmful pathogens, specifically focusing on Clostridioides difficile. By analyzing how nutrients are processed by both pathogenic and beneficial bacteria, the study aims to identify ways to deprive harmful bacteria of the resources they need to thrive. The research employs innovative techniques to track how nutrients move between bacteria and the host, and it explores how altering the gut environment can affect disease progression. Ultimately, the findings could lead to new treatments that utilize small molecules or beneficial bacteria to prevent infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing infections caused by harmful gut bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using bacterial metabolism to influence gut health, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bry, Lynn — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Bry, Lynn
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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.