NIH Names mBIOTA Labs’ Research Proposal for Rheumatoid Arthritis Among Winners for its Nutrition for Our Immune System Health (NOURISH) Autoimmunity Challenge

mBIOTA’s awarded research proposal explored elemental diet as a potential nutrition-based intervention for rheumatoid arthritis

Santa Monica, CA – April 13, 2026 – mBIOTA Labs, an emerging medical food company revolutionizing medical nutrition for the management of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, today announced that its proposal, “An Elemental Diet for the Modulation of the Microbiome in Rheumatoid Arthritis,” was selected as a winning concept by the NIH in its NOURISH Autoimmunity Challenge, a national crowdsourcing competition aimed to provoke groundbreaking ideas that integrate diet and nutrition into autoimmune disease research. 

mBIOTA’s proposal aimed to expand the clinical use cases of elemental diets as nutrition-based interventions for chronic diseases by gaining more insight into the mechanism by which the microbiome influences inflammatory responses and the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While having demonstrated effectiveness for several autoimmune conditions (e.g., celiac disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), RA), elemental diets have not before been widely implemented due to issues with palatability, a critical barrier that the innovation of mBIOTA Elemental Diet solves. 

Microbiome imbalances are associated with a pro-inflammatory environment in the intestinal system, an uptick in immune responses, a weakening of the gut barrier, and joint inflammation. With the well-documented connection between microbiome imbalances and autoimmune disease activity, the microbiome changes enabled by two weeks of an elemental diet could have potentially life-changing benefits for individuals with RA and beyond, such as Sjögren syndrome, Lupus, Psoriatic arthritis. 

“Patients living with rheumatoid arthritis experience a range of symptoms that hurt their quality of life, such as systemic joint swelling, morning joint stiffness, fatigue and mental health issues,” said Nicola Wodlinger, CEO of mBIOTA Labs. “mBIOTA is proud to be recognized by NOURISH, emphasizing the need among this patient population for more effective management strategies that target the core of chronic condition symptoms. This award offers the opportunity to expand research and better inform providers and patients alike regarding how clinically-backed nutrition-based interventions could potentially improve outcomes and ease burdens on those with rheumatoid arthritis.”

Over 95% of providers currently advise dietary intervention in RA therapy protocols, reinforcing interest among providers in novel solutions beyond standard medication. mBIOTA’s proposal highlighted several benefits of using a palatable elemental diet as an intervention for RA, including:

• Non-drug, outpatient options
• Early prevention for genetically at-risk individuals
• Symptom improvement with limited risk of serious or severe adverse events, as shown in a 2023 clinical trial
• Lowered therapy costs, as a limited-time protocol

Winning entries of the NOURISH Autoimmunity Challenge were selected based on innovative approaches, scientific rigor, research feasibility, and patient-centered ideas that improve the understanding of nutrition’s role in autoimmune disease care. 

mBIOTA Labs is committed to supporting scientific research and is founded on the principle that food can be as powerful as medicine. As a patient-founded company, engagement with those suffering from diseases for which the elemental diet may be an option is a top priority. mBIOTA partners with condition-specific advocacy groups such as G-PACT, IFFGD, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, and others to share resources, lend support to research efforts, and learn from patient communities. For more information on mBIOTA Labs, related clinical findings, or partnership opportunities, please contact: 

Cherlee Street, Director of Strategic Partnerships

cstreet@mbiotalabs.com

Maeve Byrne, Manager of Scientific Affairs

mbyrne@mbiotalabs.com 

About mBIOTA Labs

mBIOTA Labs empowers individuals with evidence-based nutrition solutions that enhance quality of life. Trusted by the medical community, mBIOTA Labs harnesses proprietary Amino Taste Modification Technology (ATMT) to create science-backed medical foods designed to support individuals with a wide range of digestive issues. mBIOTA's award-winning, clinically proven, palatable elemental diet, mBIOTA Elemental™, revolutionizes medical nutrition for the dietary management of GI dysfunction, including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and colitis, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and other conditions. mBIOTA is actively investigating and researching expanded applications of the elemental diet to aid and provide solutions to more patients. 

Learn more about mBIOTA Labs and published research supporting mBIOTA Elemental Diet by visiting www.mBIOTA.com.