Blood type A and severe lung failure after sepsis
Official title: An ABO Blood Type Defined ARDS Endotype in Sepsis
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11176940 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether having blood type A helps explain why some adults with sepsis develop life-threatening lung failure called ARDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $505,950 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL155159-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176940 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults hospitalized with sepsis who can provide blood samples or have ABO typing available would be the most relevant candidates for this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without sepsis, children, or those not hospitalized for acute illness are unlikely to be eligible or directly helped by this project.
What this research studies
This project follows adults with sepsis to see if genetic ABO blood type, especially the A1 subtype, links to higher risk of ARDS. The team measures blood proteins involved in clotting and endothelial injury (like von Willebrand factor and thrombomodulin) and compares levels by blood type. They combine genetic information, plasma measurements, and clinical outcomes from hospitalized patients to define an ARDS endotype tied to blood type. Findings will come from patient samples and medical records collected at participating hospitals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify patients at higher risk for ARDS so clinicians can monitor them more closely and design targeted treatments in the future.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies, including the investigators' own work, have linked blood type A to higher ARDS risk and to clotting-related proteins, but applying this to guide treatment is still new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reilly, John Patrick — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Reilly, John Patrick
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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.