Grants and Funding
Dr. Church’s laboratory has established a strong and sustained record of securing competitive funding in support of innovative, high-impact research.
Through consistent support from federal agencies, foundations, and collaborative initiatives, her work has advanced critical discoveries in obesity. This ongoing funding reflects both the scientific rigor of her research program and its relevance to pressing scientific and public health challenges.
Current funding
NIH/NIA R01 AG081768
Church (Contact-PI) / Mayer (MPI)
07/01/2024-06/30/2029
Title: Microbiota mediated flavonoid metabolites for cognitive health (MAEVE)
This project aims to study the effects of polyphenols on cognitive health and the brain-gut microbiome system. Read more in UCLA Health News & Insights
Yamaha Motor Corporation
Church / Naliboff (PIs)
2024-2026
Title: Understanding the links between stress and biology as it related to negative mental and physical health outcomes.
This study aims to determine the benefits of using the YEX Immersive Room to improve mental well-being and reduce stress.
UCLA Technology and Development Group Innovation Therapeutics Competition
Church (PI)
2024-2026
This project is a clinical trial testing the efficacy of a patented probiotic mixture to treat obesity and food addiction.
NIH/NIMHD R01 MD015904
Church (PI)
04/01/2021 – 12/30/26
Title: Social isolation and discrimination as stressors influencing brain-gut-microbiome alterations among Filipino and Mexican Americans
This proposal aims to examine how the stressors of social isolation and discrimination are related to eating behaviors and dietary patterns, and how these behaviors affect the brain-gut-microbiome axis in Mexican and Filipina women.
NIH/NIMHD R01 MD015904 (S1- Diversity Supplement)
Diversity supplement to support Rosario B. Jaime-Lara, PhD, RN, in discrimination and obesity research (2026)
U54 DK064539
Mayer/Chang (MPI)
05/01/2020-06/30/2026
Title: Sex related differences in brain-gut-microbiome interactions in irritable bowel syndrome
This proposal aims to gain a better understanding of the role of the gut microbiome and female sex hormones in the modulation of brain-gut-microbiome interactions in two of the most common disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic functional constipation.
Role: Project co-lead and co-investigator
U19 AG063744
Kaddurah-Daouk (PI)
07/01/2019 – 06/30/2026
Duke University/NIH
The Alzheimer's Gut Microbiome Project
Project: A multi-omics molecular, brain, biomarker signature for progressive cognitive and Alzheimer's disease
Although most research has focused on a biological system (e.g., genetics, proteomics, metabolomics blood biomarkers, brain connectomics), the goal of the proposed analyses is to combine several multi-omics data sets obtained in projects 1, 2 and 3, along with our expertise in multimodal neuroimaging, computational and biostatistics, and advanced bioinformatics into a single framework, a biological interaction network.
Role: Subcontract co-investigator
Completed research support
Biocodex Microbiota Foundation Grant
Church (PI)
02/01/2020-01/30/2022
Title: Effect of a fasting mimicking diet on alterations in the brain-gut microbiome-immune axis in females with metabolic syndrome
This proposal seeks to assess the changes in the brain and in the gut microbiome as measured by 16S and metabolites after a fasting mimicking intervention in obese females with metabolic syndrome.
Danone Nutricia Research
Church (PI)
12/16/2020-03/01/2022
Title: Pilot study aimed to determine the optimal design for the UCLA/Danone Probiotic Intervention Study related to stress
The goal of this pilot study is to identify the optimal population and methodology for the planned probiotic intervention study in Phase II of the collaboration.
TRDRP: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program
Assari (PI)
Title: Nicotine exposure alters tissue glucocorticoid metabolism and leads to hypertension
This project will analyze existing data of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, the largest brain development study conducted in the U.S. to date.
Role: Co-investigator
NIH/NIDDK R03 DK121025
Church (PI)
02/01/2020-01/30/2023
Title: Role of the gut microbiome in reward network alterations in obesity
This proposal seeks to understand the sex differences in the influence of the gut microbiome on brain patterns in the extended reward system in obesity.
NIH/NIDDK K23 DK106528
Church (PI)
05/01/2016-04/31/2023
Title: Role of inflammatory processes in reward network alterations in obesity
This proposal seeks to understand the underlying mechanisms of altered ingestive behaviors in obesity as a result of the influence of adverse environmental factors on the bidirectional brain-immune loop.
AGA-Rome Foundation
Church (PI)
10/01/2019-03/31/2021
Functional GI and Motility Disorders Pilot Research Award
Title: Cognitive behavioral therapy leads to bidirectional changes in brain-gut axis for obesity
This proposal seeks to assess the changes in the brain and in the gut microbiome as measured by 16S and metabolites after a cognitive behavior therapy in an obese sample.
NIH/NIDDK DK 041301
Church (PI)
12/01/2018 - 11/30/2019
UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Intramural Award: CURE/CTSI Pilot and Feasibility Study)
Title: Sex differences in microbiome-related alterations in brain signatures in obesity
This proposal seeks to understand the sex differences in the influence of the gut microbiome on brain patterns in the extended reward system in obesity.
NIH/NCATS UL1TR001881
Church (PI)
12/01/2019-11/30/2020
UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Intramural Award: CURE/CTSI Pilot and Feasibility Study)
Title: Sex differences in brain-gut microbiome-immune interactions in obesity and food addiction
This proposal seeks to understand the sex differences in the influence of the brain-gut microbiome-and immune interactions in food addiction and obesity.