Chronic alcohol use and sepsis: why outcomes worsen
Official title: The Impact of Chronic Alcohol Abuse on the Pathophysiology of Sepsis
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11400332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies why people with alcohol use disorder have worse outcomes when they get sepsis, with findings that could guide personalized care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2014 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $352,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA027396-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400332 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with alcohol use disorder who develop sepsis or clinicians treating them.
✕Less likely to help
Non-sepsis patients or those without alcohol use disorder may not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a mouse model of chronic alcohol use followed by sepsis to explore how alcohol changes the body’s response, especially in the gut and adaptive immune system. They will examine gut barrier function, inflammation, and immune cell orchestration to identify mechanisms driving higher mortality and longer ICU stays in this population. The goal is to pinpoint targets that could lead to precision medicine strategies for patients with alcohol use disorder who develop sepsis. Results could inform future human studies and potential therapies to improve survival and recovery. The work is being conducted at Emory University under a Mayo-like translational framework.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to tailored treatments that reduce death and complications for sepsis patients with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows gut permeability and immune changes are important in alcohol-related sepsis, supporting potential impact but human translation is still developing.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coopersmith, Craig M — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Coopersmith, Craig M
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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.