NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Dysbiosis, organ injury, and systemic inflammation in critical illness

Official title: Dysbiosis, organ injury, and Systemic Inflammation

Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11257915 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant explores how gut bacteria imbalances and organ injury contribute to widespread inflammation in critically ill patients, with the goal of finding therapies.

More Dysbiosis research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project startJune 1, 2026
Project endMarch 31, 2031
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$440,908
NIH project number1R35GM161304-01
Project IDNIH-11257915 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults in intensive care with critical illness (e.g., trauma, burns, surgery) showing dysbiosis or gut barrier issues.

Less likely to help

Patients without critical illness or with stable gut microbiomes are unlikely to benefit from this research.

What this research studies

In people who are critically ill due to trauma, burns, or surgery, this project looks at how changes in the gut microbiome relate to organ damage and a dangerous inflammatory response. Researchers will study how gut bacteria interact with the body’s immune system, aiming to identify targets for treatment. The work includes examining 16S RNA sequencing data to understand which microbes are present and how they relate to patient outcomes. By uncovering the links between dysbiosis, gut barrier failure, and systemic inflammation, the team hopes to improve survival and recovery for ICU patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Potentially leading to new therapies that protect the gut and reduce organ failure in critically ill patients.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests a link between dysbiosis and worse outcomes, supporting the rationale for this approach.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Illinois at Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Wang, Xiao — University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Wang, Xiao

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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    NIH research Northwestern University · Chicago, United States · NIH-11624054

  • From Symbiosis to Dysbiosis: How Resolving Inflammation Could Restore Your Mouth’s Balance

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    NIH research Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · Somerville, UNITED STATES · NIH-11621747

  • Antibiotics, gut health, and skin reactions in kids

    A small study in children will look at whether antibiotic use and gut bacteria play a role in hives and related symptoms that children sometimes get after antibiotics.

    NIH research Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · Cincinnati, United States · NIH-11603169

  • Novel therapeutic to protect the gut after radiation

    A new GI-directed treatment given after radiation exposure may reduce gut damage and improve survival in people exposed to high-dose radiation.

    NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-11572662

  • A new GI-focused treatment to reduce radiation damage after exposure

    A potential GI-targeted therapy given after radiation exposure may help protect the gut and improve survival in people affected by radiation injuries.

    NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-11572658

  • How a mouth bacterium might fuel gum disease and heart risk

    A small study will look at how a bacterium in the mouth that makes a reactive chemical (methylglyoxal) could drive gum inflammation and changes in the mouth’s bacteria, possibly linking to heart disease.

    NIH research State University of New York at Buffalo · Amherst, United States · NIH-11564245

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.