# Breathprinting as a window into gut microbiome chemoecology

> **NIH NIH R01** · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · 2024 · $669,712

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The gut microbiome has a profound effect on human health by influencing the development of the immune
system, producing bioactive metabolites and directly aiding in the processing of food. Changes in the
composition and metabolism of the gut microbial community has been associated with a wide array of human
diseases, including malnutrition, auto-immunity, and even neurological function. A central aspiration of gut
microbiome research is to identify individuals with abnormalities in gut microbial composition in order to intervene
therapeutically. However, a major limitation is that it is logistically challenging to evaluate gut microbial
composition in a patient-care setting. The studies in this proposal will advance a novel strategy to overcome this
roadblock. Based on powerful preliminary studies in germ-free mice and in humans, our central hypothesis is
that the volatile composition of breath offers a dynamic representation of the composition and function of the gut
microbiota. We will test this hypothesis by evaluating the association between breath, gut bacterial species, and
microbial metabolic functions (Aim 1). In addition, we will use two unique clinical cohorts of infants to determine
how the breath volatile profile changes dynamically with changes in gut microbial community composition (Aim
2). Together, our studies will not only advance our fundamental understanding of the spectrum of breath volatiles
that arise from microbial metabolism, but will also be a critical first step in determining how “breathalyzer”
diagnostics of gut health can be applied clinically.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10876495
- **Project number:** 5R01HD109963-03
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrew Leon Kau
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $669,712
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10876495

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10876495, Breathprinting as a window into gut microbiome chemoecology (5R01HD109963-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10876495. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*