Boosting natural immunity to prevent hospital infections after severe burns
Protection Against Nosocomial Infections After Severe Burn Injury Through Trained Immunity
This project gives immune-activating treatments to retrain blood immune cells so people with serious burns can fight infections better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260971 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at how a severe burn weakens my immune system and then uses immune-activating agents called TLR agonists (like MPLA and CpG) to 'train' innate immune cells—macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils—to respond better to infections. The team will measure immune cell function, metabolic changes (including glycolysis and mitochondrial biogenesis), and infection resistance using laboratory tests and experimental models informed by prior studies. The approach targets MyD88- and mTOR-dependent pathways that have been linked to reversing immune exhaustion. Results aim to point toward new treatments to lower infection risk after burns.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People hospitalized with severe burn injuries who are at high risk for systemic infection and immune dysfunction would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with minor burns, those without systemic immune impairment, or those who cannot receive immune-stimulating agents may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce life-threatening hospital-acquired infections and improve recovery and survival after severe burns.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical work shows TLR agonists like MPLA and CpG can induce trained immunity and protect against infections, but testing in burn patients is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bohannon, Julia K. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bohannon, Julia K.
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 below.