# Human microbiome metabolites in health and disease

> **NIH NIH R35** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2024 · $95,879

## Abstract

Project Summary
The overarching goal of this supplement request for R35 GM128618 is to support Jasmine Walsh, a promising
PhD candidate from an under-represented group, in her research training in the PI’s laboratory. Specifically,
Jasmine is studying gut bacterial metabolism of endogenous steroid hormones. The Devlin lab has been studying
gut bacterial conversion of glucocorticoids, metabolites that regulate immune function and metabolism, into
progestins, metabolites that are neurosteroids and sex hormones. Jasmine will contribute to these efforts by
identifying gut bacteria and bacterial enzymes that produce progesterone (P4), tetrahydroprogesterones (THPs),
and 11β-hydroxy tetrahydroprogesterones (11β-OH THPs). She will also investigate the in vivo relevance of
these findings by exploring whether gut bacteria produce these compounds in specific pathogen-free and
gnotobiotic pregnant and non-pregnant female mice. Finally, she will characterize the effects of progestin
metabolites on progesterone receptor (PR) signaling in vitro. This supplement will provide Jasmine with rigorous
training in biochemistry, analytical chemistry, microbiology, cell culture, and mouse studies in the context of the
microbiome field. In addition, the career development plan supported by this supplement will act as a springboard
for Jasmine to progress to the next stage of her scientific career and will help her advance toward her ultimate
goal, which is running her own laboratory. The proposed supplement will enhance the goals of the parent R35
while advancing the NIH mission for enhancing diversity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11041399
- **Project number:** 3R35GM128618-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** Abigail Sloan Devlin
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $95,879
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11041399

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11041399, Human microbiome metabolites in health and disease (3R35GM128618-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11041399. Licensed CC0.

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