Exploring how tiny inflammatory vesicles link obesity and worse sepsis outcomes
Official title: Exploring the Link Between Extracellular Vesicle-Associated Inflammation in Obesity and Sepsis Outcomes
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11360890 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A disease-focused research effort looks at tiny body messengers released with obesity to see if they worsen sepsis outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | May 21, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $815,858 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK143964-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360890 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents with obesity and healthy controls who can provide samples and participate in analyses.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without obesity or pediatric involvement may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This grant investigates how small extracellular vesicles carrying inflammatory signals, produced more in obesity, might worsen organ injury during sepsis. The study uses data from obese children and healthy controls to understand how these vesicles affect immune cells and inflammatory genes. Researchers aim to map the pathways that make these vesicles pro-inflammatory and determine how their RNA cargo drives immune responses. This work could point to new targets to reduce organ damage in septic patients who are obese.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new ways to treat or prevent severe sepsis in people with obesity by targeting inflammatory vesicles or their cargo.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data from pediatric obesity cohorts suggest obesity-related changes in extracellular vesicles, supporting further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nakamura, Takahisa — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Nakamura, Takahisa
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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.