Blocking complement protein C5 to treat sepsis
Official title: Complement C5 inhibition as sepsis therapy
Funded at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation · NIH-11307563 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether blocking a part of the immune system called complement C5 can help people with severe sepsis avoid organ failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | February 9, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $633,416 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI168355-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307563 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with severe bacterial sepsis, particularly from E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus, and those at high risk of developing multiple organ failure would be the most relevant candidates for therapies emerging from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with late irreversible organ damage, non-bacterial causes of sepsis, or clear contraindications to complement inhibition or anticoagulation may not benefit from these approaches.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying sepsis — a life-threatening organ failure caused by infection — and how activation of the complement and blood-clotting systems makes organ damage worse. They will use lab models of sepsis caused by E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus to map how complement C5 and coagulation interact. The team will test timed approaches: blocking C5, blocking the C5a receptor, and combining early anticoagulation with delayed complement inhibition to see which strategies protect organs and improve survival. Findings will help determine whether C5-focused treatments could be given at specific stages to prevent multiple organ failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that reduce organ failure and deaths from severe bacterial sepsis.
How similar studies have gone: Complement C5 or C5a receptor blockade has shown protection in animal studies and is used for other human diseases, but it remains largely unproven as a consistent therapy for sepsis in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lupu, Florea — Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Lupu, Florea
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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.