Anemia after severe burns
Official title: Inflammatory Mechanisms in Post Burn Anemia of Critical Illness
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11262815 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how inflammation from severe burns causes anemia to find ways to reduce blood transfusions for burn patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,572 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL155579-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262815 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with significant burn injuries or critically ill burn patients who are experiencing anemia and are treated in or referred to a burn unit or ICU.
✕Less likely to help
People with anemia from chronic non-inflammatory causes or conditions unrelated to acute burn/critical illness are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
As a burn patient, this project looks at how inflammation in the burn wound makes it hard to make and keep red blood cells by blocking normal erythropoietin signals and limiting iron. The team will measure inflammatory signals such as G‑CSF and IL‑6 and study how those signals affect erythropoiesis and iron handling. They will use patient-derived samples and laboratory models to pinpoint which inflammatory steps can be targeted. The overall aim is to identify treatments that lower transfusion needs in burn unit and ICU patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce the need for blood transfusions by restoring red blood cell production after severe burns.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows erythropoietin and iron often fail in this setting and links IL‑6 and other inflammatory molecules to anemia, but directly targeting these pathways in burn-related anemia is still relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gardner, Jason — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Gardner, Jason
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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.