# Sustained Delivery of Microbes to Treat Ulcerative Colitis

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $188,344

## Abstract

Abstract
Intestinal inflammation encompasses a debilitating set of diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative
colitis which can result from dysregulated immune responses to resident microbiota. These diseases affect over
1.5 million people in the Unites States and currently approved treatment options include anti-inflammatory drugs
and immune system suppressors. Unfortunately, these drugs do not address the mechanistic cause of
inflammation and are focused on reducing symptoms. Previous work has shown that modulation of the
microbiome towards a protective composition can be an effective strategy to prevent the induction of colitis.
However, microbiome modulation via the delivery of living microbes remains a challenge. Accordingly, we will
develop a new approach to control the location, duration, and concentration of delivered microbes to the
gastrointestinal tract to improve microbiome modulation and thus efficacy in both prevention and treatment of
colitis. There are two independent aims. In Aim 1, we will develop and optimize a formulation capable of
controlling microbe concentration and contact time at the colon surface to modulate microbe adhesion, growth,
and colonization. In this aim, we will determine how the spatiotemporal interactions of delivered microbes
influences their colonization. In Aim 2, we will determine the role of spatiotemporal interactions between
delivered microbes in the protection and treatment of experimental colitis. In this aim, we will first test how the
delivery of a 23-member Lachnospiraceae consortium impacts protection against experimental ulcerative colitis.
We will evaluate both: (i) non-formulated microbes delivered via various dosing regiments using standard oral
gavage, and (ii) microbes formulated in polymer films that are capable achieving distinct delivery profiles,
residence times, and local concentrations. Overall, we aim to develop new approaches that can control the
delivery, adhesion, colonization, and efficacy of microbe therapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017985
- **Project number:** 5R21DK123583-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Aaron C Anselmo
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $188,344
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-13 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017985

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017985, Sustained Delivery of Microbes to Treat Ulcerative Colitis (5R21DK123583-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017985. Licensed CC0.

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