# Nociceptor regulation of intestinal inflammation and tissue protection

> **NIH NIH K99** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2024 · $91,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
Research: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a group of chronic inflammatory diseases of the
gastrointestinal tract that affect over 3 million Americans. Abdominal pain is a common symptom of IBD, but the
role of pain-sensing nociceptor neurons in regulating the inflammatory process is largely unknown. Based on my
published and new preliminary data, I hypothesize that nociceptor sensory neurons and neuropeptides are
tissue-protective, but become dysregulated in the context IBD, and subsequently drive pathological adaptive
immunity and alterations to the microbiota that facilitate intestinal inflammation and impair tissue repair. This
proposal aims to thoroughly investigate the regulation of intestinal infection and inflammation by nociceptor
sensory neurons and determine the detailed underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms using innovative and
interdisciplinary approaches from neurobiology, gastroenterology, immunology and microbiology. These studies
will uncover novel neuro-immune-microbiota crosstalk pathways and their unique roles in intestinal inflammation
and transform our understandings of host-microbe interactions and neuro-immune mechanisms in IBD.
Career goals: My overarching career goal is to become an independent investigator at an academic institution
where I decipher the neuro-immune and neuron-microbiota pathways that regulate intestinal tolerance and
inflammation and eventually discover neuronal-based and microbiota-based drug targets for immune modulation
to treat chronic inflammatory diseases including IBD. Furthermore, I aspire to become an inspirational teacher
and outstanding mentor.
Career Development Plan: To become a successful independent investigator I will further develop various
research, professional and personal skills. These will include further acquiring expertise in neurobiology and
microbiology techniques, as well as fostering collaborations and developing skills in writing, mentoring, teaching,
communicating and laboratory management. My host laboratory and Weill Cornell Medicine provides an
outstanding academic environment in which trainees can fulfil these criteria by promoting scientific interactions
and enrolling in courses to develop skills in specialist scientific areas, personal development and laboratory
management. The mentorship I will receive will be of the highest standard. Furthermore, in addition to my mentor
and co-mentor, I have support from a team of independent investigators with extensive expertise in areas that
will greatly facilitate the completion of experiments proposed and my career transitional into independence.
Career Development Environment: I will perform the K99 phase in the laboratory of Dr. David Artis at the Weill
Cornell Medicine, which provides an unprecedented environment in terms of the resources and facilities
available. Weill Cornell Medicine is an ideal environment to develop during the K99 phase as I progress to
become a successful independent inves...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10985060
- **Project number:** 1K99DK138295-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Wen Zhang
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $91,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-11 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10985060

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10985060, Nociceptor regulation of intestinal inflammation and tissue protection (1K99DK138295-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10985060. Licensed CC0.

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