Azithromycin for RSV-induced Respiratory Failure in Children
Official title: A Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial of Azithromycin for RSV-induced Respiratory Failure in Children
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11145744 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether azithromycin can help children with severe breathing problems caused by RSV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $629,055 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD105678-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145744 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are infants and children aged 0-11 years who are experiencing acute respiratory failure due to RSV infection and require mechanical ventilation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have RSV-induced respiratory failure or are outside the specified age range may not receive direct benefit from this particular intervention.
What this research studies
RSV can cause serious lung issues for infants and children, and we currently have limited ways to help them. This project explores if a common antibiotic, azithromycin, can reduce the severity of RSV-induced breathing failure. Researchers believe azithromycin might work by affecting a specific protein in the body called MMP-9, which plays a role in RSV disease. This large-scale effort will involve many hospitals working together to understand if azithromycin can make a real difference for these children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a new and effective treatment to reduce hospital stays and improve outcomes for children suffering from severe RSV infection.
How similar studies have gone: A previous Phase II trial showed that azithromycin was safe and linked to shorter hospital stays and lower levels of a specific inflammatory marker in mechanically-ventilated children.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kong, Michele — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Kong, Michele
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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.