Project Grant K08HD120866

Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston received a $162,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. This five-year research initiative investigates the role of gut microbiota-derived butyrate in modulating inflammation and improving neurological outcomes following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE), a leading cause of pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities. The research employs fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), shotgun metagenomics analysis, and behavioral assessment to determine how chronic alterations in gut microbiota composition affect long-term neurological recovery and to define the mechanisms by which butyrate promotes regulatory T cell maturation and anti-inflammatory microglial responses in both peripheral and central immune compartments.

The project delivers research services focused on identifying novel therapeutic targets for NHIE by establishing the connection between gut microbiota dysbiosis and persistent chronic inflammation. Using the Rice-Vannucci model of NHIE, the research will quantify butyrate levels in biological samples, correlate microbial composition changes with behavioral outcomes, and analyze peripheral and central inflammatory mechanisms. This work aims to develop evidence-based approaches to extend treatment efficacy beyond the acute phase, addressing a critical gap in pediatric neurodevelopmental health where current therapeutic hypothermia is limited in scope and timing.