Project Grant R01DK146939

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded $449,337 to the University of Wisconsin System on August 1, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) to investigate how tuft cells—rare chemosensory epithelial cells—control microbiome-dependent inflammation in extrahepatic biliary tissues.

The recipient, University of Wisconsin–Madison, will conduct research demonstrating that the extrahepatic biliary tree functions as a microbiome-responsive mucosal surface. The work identifies tuft cells as key mediators of inflammation and mucosal immunity in this environment and tests mechanisms by which these cells respond to microbial short-chain fatty acids, particularly propionate, through the FFAR3 receptor to modulate neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory gene expression. The research also examines whether tuft cell effector molecules—including prostaglandins and secretin in addition to acetylcholine—regulate protective anion release into the epithelial mucus layer. Work is performed in Madison, Wisconsin, with a period of performance through May 31, 2031.

This Project Grant, a form of assistance, supports extramural basic biomedical research aimed at improving understanding of disease mechanisms and advancing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes, digestive, and kidney diseases.