# Location-specific In Vivo Sensing and Imaging of Butyrate in the GI Tract

> **NIH NIH R21** · IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $213,037

## Abstract

Project Summary
The short chain fatty acid butyrate is a key molecule in the human gut metabolome,
regulating bacterial growth, inflammation, and colon cell health. Despite its importance
there is currently no reliable method for inline monitoring of butyrate production in situ.
In addition, cecal and fecal levels of butyrate are often not good predictors of butyrate
production by gut bacteria. The goal of this proposal is to build bacterial biosensors for
butyrate which, coupled to cellular memory circuits, will enable monitoring of butyrate
content throughout the small and large intestine and biogeographical mapping of
butyrate concentrations. This technology will allow researchers to test many different
interventions (e.g., prebiotics, probiotics, and other forms of butyrate supplementation)
with the goal of optimizing the levels of butyrate in the gut. We will also test
interventions that increase butyrate as a proof of concept of the method.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10433447
- **Project number:** 1R21EB033091-01
- **Recipient organization:** IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas J Mansell
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $213,037
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10433447

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10433447, Location-specific In Vivo Sensing and Imaging of Butyrate in the GI Tract (1R21EB033091-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10433447. Licensed CC0.

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