Airway microbes and viral infections in children with tracheostomies
Official title: Viral respiratory infections in a tracheostomy cohort: Microbiome-host interplay
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11141181 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how airway germs and the body's response during viral infections affect illness in children who have tracheostomies and use home ventilation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $704,595 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173142-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141181 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with a tracheostomy who receive home ventilation and are at risk for viral respiratory infections are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
Children without a tracheostomy, adults, or those with illnesses unrelated to airway microbiome dynamics are unlikely to benefit directly from this study.
What this research studies
You would join a group of children with tracheostomies who are followed during viral respiratory illnesses and provide airway samples over time. Researchers will use detailed genetic and RNA methods (metatranscriptomics) to see which microbes are active and how airway cells respond during infection. They will link those patterns to how sick children become and to antibiotic use to determine whether bacterial overgrowths mean true infection. The study aims to find day-by-day airway ecosystem changes that could guide more precise treatments for these high-risk children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to better-targeted treatments and clearer guidance about when antibiotics are helpful, potentially reducing hospitalizations and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown links between airway bacterial dominance and worse viral infections, but applying metatranscriptomic profiling in a tracheostomy pediatric cohort is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mansbach, Jonathan M — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Mansbach, Jonathan M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Novel Tracheostomy Alert Device for Children and Adults
A new, affordable sensor and loud alert system will warn caregivers if a tracheostomy tube is blocked or comes out, with a focus on protecting children who have the procedure.
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EPIPHANY: Using AI to guide when to do tracheostomy for patients on long ventilators
An AI-based platform aims to help ICU teams decide the best time for tracheostomy in patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation, potentially reducing complications and costs.
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Understanding infections in children with tracheostomies
This study is looking at what causes respiratory infections in children with tracheostomies, so we can better understand which kids might get sick more often and help them stay healthier.
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Understanding and treating infections in children with tracheostomies
This study looks at how doctors treat bacterial infections in children with tracheostomies, especially those caused by a tough germ called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to find better ways to help these kids get the right care.
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Investigating how viral infections affect children with tracheostomies and their microbiomes
This study is looking at children with tracheostomies who are more likely to get serious respiratory infections, to see how the germs in their airways and their immune system work together during these infections, with the hope of finding better ways to treat them.
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Creating a tool to help families make decisions about tracheostomy in the ICU
This study is working to make it easier for families to make decisions about tracheostomy procedures in the ICU by creating a helpful tool that addresses their specific questions and worries.
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.