A Repository to Study Host-Microbiome Interactions in Health and Disease

NCT05656378 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 10001146001146-I
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 600
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: The microbiome is the bacteria and other microorganisms that live inside and on the body. The microbiome is important for our health. Researchers study how the microbiome help people stay healthy. They study how the microbiome affects the body when people get sick. To do this research, they need samples of the microbiome living on the bodies of many people. The purpose of this natural history study is to collect microbiome samples in a repository. These samples will be used for future research. Objective: To collect microbiome samples from the body that can be used for future research. Eligibility: People of any age. Only those older than 3 years will be seen at the NIH clinic. Design: Participants will fill out a questionnaire. Topics will include their medical history and foods they eat. Participants will be asked to give 1 or more of the following: Stool, urine, saliva, vaginal fluid, and breastmilk. These samples can be collected at home and sent to the researchers. Cells from participants cheek, nose, mouth, skin, rectum, and/or vagina. The cells may be collected by rubbing the area with a sterile cotton swab. These procedures can also be done at home. Blood. Blood may be drawn using a needle inserted into a vein in the arm. For young children, blood may be collected by a prick on the heel or finger. Intestinal tissue samples. These may be collected from participants who are having an endoscopy or colonoscopy for other reasons. Skin tissue samples. These may be collected from participants who are having biopsies for other reasons.

Conditions

Healthy Controls; Pregnancy; Pediatric Illnesses; Inflammatory Diseases

Keywords

Microbiome; Host Response; Children; Pregnancy; Natural History

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Collection of biological specimens to assess host microbiome response

  To provide samples for use in secondary research for evaluation of assay validation, optimization of techniques for collection, storage, processing and analyzing samples, control samples for research tests in other studies, and identification of potential targets from which clinical trials can be designed to better understand or mitigate microbiome associated diseases

  Through End of Study

Study Arms (1)

Single Cohort

Participants aged \>0 years with no upper age limit, both healthy volunteers and those with previously known and unknown disease states

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

People of all ages who meet study criteria.

You may qualify if:

• In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
• Aged \>0 years. Only participants \>3 years old will be seen at the NIH CC.
• Willing to allow biological samples and data to be stored for future research.
• Willing to provide at least one of the requested biospecimens.

You may not qualify if:

• An individual who has any condition that, in the judgment of the investigator, may put them at undue risk or make them unsuitable for participation in the study will be excluded.
• For additional gastrointestinal and skin biopsies only, individuals on blood thinners unless they have already been stopped for the procedure.
• For additional gastrointestinal biopsies only, individuals who have a history of gastrointestinal perforation with endoscopic biopsies will be excluded from the collection of additional gastrointestinal biopsies for the repository.
• For additional gastrointestinal biopsies only, healthy children (\<18 years old).
• For skin biopsies only, individuals who have a history of keloid formation.
• For vaginal swabs and vaginal fluid only, individuals who have not started menses.
• For breast milk only, non-lactating individuals.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

RECRUITING

Related Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Study Officials

• Suchitra K Hourigan, M.D.

  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Shira L Levy

CONTACT

(240) 669-5205; shira.levy@nih.gov

Suchitra K Hourigan, M.D.

CONTACT

(240) 627-3995; suchitra.hourigan@nih.gov

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2022
• First Posted: December 19, 2022
• Study Start: March 9, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2032
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2032
• Last Updated: April 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-10-01

Locations

US (1)