Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Baylor College of Medicine received a $120,375 Project Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), awarded on July 15, 2026, with a completion date of June 30, 2028. The award funds a Phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating Bifidobacterium breve supplementation in infants with cholestasis and suspected biliary atresia (BA). Biliary atresia is the most common potentially fatal cause of neonatal cholestasis in the United States and leads to severe liver damage and rapid liver failure without treatment. The only non-surgical treatment option is the Kasai portoenterostomy (KP), a surgical procedure designed to restore bile flow.

The research deliverables under this grant include the design, conduct, and evaluation of a human clinical trial examining probiotic supplementation as a potential therapeutic intervention to improve patient outcomes, specifically measuring clearance of jaundice (COJ) and native liver survival following the Kasai procedure. This project aligns with NIDDK's mission to support basic and clinical research improving understanding of disease mechanisms and leading to improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of digestive and liver diseases, with particular relevance to pediatric liver disease and clinical nutrition research areas.