A new blood test to improve diagnosis of sepsis

Cell-free DNA as a versatile analyte for the monitoring of sepsis

NIH-funded research Cornell University · NIH-10778624

This study is working on a simple blood test that can quickly find out if someone has sepsis and what infection is causing it, using a new technique to make sure the results are accurate and helpful for getting the right treatment fast.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCornell University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ithaca, United States)
Project IDNIH-10778624 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a minimally invasive blood test that uses cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to diagnose sepsis and identify the underlying infections. By employing a novel technique called Coffee-seq, the study aims to enhance the accuracy of detecting pathogens while minimizing contamination in blood samples. The approach involves multi-omics profiling to assess the body's immune response and organ injury simultaneously, which is crucial for timely and effective treatment. This innovative method could significantly improve the early diagnosis of sepsis, potentially saving lives.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients who are critically ill and suspected of having sepsis or related infections.

Not a fit: Patients who are not critically ill or do not exhibit symptoms of infection may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses of sepsis, improving treatment outcomes and reducing mortality rates.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using cfDNA for pathogen detection, but this specific approach with Coffee-seq is novel and has not been widely tested.

Where this research is happening

Ithaca, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.