Hyderabad:A new research initiative is looking at whether pills made from faecal matter of carefully screened healthy donors could help treat patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
A dedicated Gut Microbiome Therapeutics and Pill Lab was launched at AIG Hospitals on Saturday to study the potential of microbiome-based treatment. The initiative was aimed at moving beyond studying the gut microbiome and exploring how it could be used to develop new treatments
The gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms living in the digestive system. Doctors said these microbes played an important role in immunity, inflammation, metabolism and the functioning of the gut. Changes in the balance of these microorganisms have been linked to several diseases, particularly IBD
As part of the research, healthy donors will be identified and screened. They will undergo detailed interviews to check their medical and gut health history, followed by mandatory blood and other tests. Selected donors will then provide samples at the laboratory under controlled conditions
The laboratory will process the samples and develop oral microbiome capsules under research protocols. The capsules will undergo microbiome profiling, quality checks, safety testing and documentation before being used in approved clinical research
Researchers said both dry and wet formulations would be studied. Dry capsules can be preserved for longer periods by patients at home, while wet preparations require stricter storage conditions. The appropriate formulation and dosage will be advised to patients by doctors
Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of AIG Hospitals, said restoring a healthy microbial balance could have potential in treating chronic inflammatory diseases
“We are entering an era where the gut microbiome may become one of the most important frontiers in medicine. The possibility of restoring a healthier microbial ecosystem has enormous potential, especially in chronic inflammatory diseases,” he said
Dr Rupa Banerjee, director of the IBD Centre, AIG Hospitals, said microbiome treatment required strict screening and monitoring at every stage. “Microbiome therapeutics cannot be approached casually. Every step, from donor screening to capsule preparation and patient monitoring, must follow a clear protocol,” she said
The initial research will focus on IBD, where changes in gut bacteria were believed to influence inflammation and the immune system. Researchers hoped the project would generate India-specific data on microbiome patterns, disease progression and response to treatment. The laboratory will also develop a microbiota biobank to support future research into disease markers, treatment response and relapse prediction.
International microbiome experts, including Prof Michael Kamm from Australia, participated in the launch and shared their views on gut microbial restoration and its potential clinical applications
Doctors said microbiome-based therapies were being studied worldwide for several conditions, including recurrent intestinal infections, IBD, liver disease and metabolic disorders. They stressed that the capsules being developed under the initiative were for research and not a routine treatment available to patients
Any use of the microbiome capsules will be carried out only under approved clinical research protocols and medical supervision added Dr Nageshwar Reddy
