A new immune-blocking therapy plus antibiotics for severe sepsis and ARDS in older adults
Official title: An Innovative Immune Therapy with Antibiotics to Treat Deadly Excess Inflammation in Sepsis and ARDS Induced from Severe Bacterial Infection in Geriatric Patients
Funded at Bioprovar Corporation · NIH-11370765 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is trying a treatment that restores a natural TREM1 blocker together with antibiotics to help older adults with life-threatening bacterial sepsis or ARDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Bioprovar Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $461,487 |
| NIH project number | 4U44AG074105-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370765 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be older adults hospitalized with severe bacterial infections causing sepsis or acute respiratory distress syndrome who meet hospital trial enrollment criteria.
✕Less likely to help
People with ARDS or respiratory failure caused by non-bacterial causes (for example viral or noninfectious injury), those not requiring intensive care, or those with contraindications to the therapy are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
If I had severe sepsis or ARDS, this project is trying to develop a treatment that combines a natural immune blocker called TREM1-sv with antibiotics to calm the harmful overactive inflammation. The team discovered TREM1-sv and saw much better survival in mice with severe bacterial infection when it was given with antibiotics, and they will use this grant to refine the drug, study safety and dosing, and meet regulatory requirements. The work includes more lab and animal testing, drug manufacturing under clinical standards, and preparation for human testing. If human trials start, patients would likely be enrolled through hospital intensive-care units that treat sepsis and ARDS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce the deadly inflammatory response and lower deaths from bacterial sepsis and ARDS in older adults when given alongside antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Targeting TREM1 and related immune pathways has shown promising results in animal studies but clinical proof of benefit in humans is limited or not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
Bioprovar Corporation
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roussel, Eugene — Bioprovar Corporation
- Study coordinator: Roussel, Eugene
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Innovative immune therapy with antibiotics to treat deadly inflammation in sepsis and ARDS in older adults
A new approach combines an antibiotic strategy with a special immune-based treatment to help older patients who have sepsis or ARDS from severe bacterial infection.
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Using immune therapy and antibiotics to treat severe inflammation in older patients with sepsis and ARDS.
This study is looking at a new way to help older adults with sepsis and severe breathing problems by using a mix of immune therapy and antibiotics, focusing on a special immune receptor that might help reduce harmful inflammation and improve their chances of recovery.
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Coordinating ARDS, Pneumonia, and Sepsis research to improve care
A national coordinating center helps researchers studying ARDS and related infections work together more efficiently to learn what helps patients recover.
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Understanding ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis: a big study to map how illness and recovery unfold
A large patient study at the University of Pennsylvania will follow adults with ARDS, pneumonia, or sepsis to learn how these conditions progress and recover over time.
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Coordination and data sharing for ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis research
A national collaborative effort to improve how researchers study ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis by coordinating centers, data collection, and analyses.
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Molecular profiling of ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis in adults using advanced sequencing
A research team at four California hospitals will study adults with ARDS, pneumonia, or sepsis to identify molecular patterns in their illness using genetic sequencing.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.