Blood sequencing to find germs and predict outcomes in sepsis

Integrated Host-Microbe Metagenomics for Sepsis Pathogen Surveillance, Subphenotyping and Outcome Prediction

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11310119

This project uses advanced blood sequencing on adults with septic shock to find the germs involved and the immune patterns that may predict outcomes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11310119 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, researchers will use blood and plasma samples collected from over 1,500 adults with septic shock enrolled in the CLOVERS trial. They will perform metagenomic sequencing to detect bacteria, viruses, and other microbes without relying on cultures, and measure host gene activity to capture immune responses. The team will combine microbial and host data to define sepsis subtypes and link them to clinical outcomes. The goal is to produce information that could help doctors identify infections faster and personalize treatments based on both the pathogen and the patient’s immune reaction.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with septic shock whose blood or plasma can be obtained, typically patients treated at hospitals participating in the CLOVERS trial.

Not a fit: People without sepsis, children, and patients whose blood samples are not available or who are not treated at participating centers are unlikely to benefit directly.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could help doctors identify the cause of sepsis faster and predict which patients are most likely to worsen, guiding quicker, more targeted care.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier small studies show that metagenomic pathogen detection and host transcript profiling can identify infections and risk patterns, but combining both across a large septic shock cohort is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acute Respiratory Distress SyndromeAdult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.