Glucocorticoids and critical illness outcomes in ICU patients
Official title: Glucocorticoids in short- and long-term critical illness outcomes
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11580346 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher team at Columbia University will study how glucocorticoids affect short- and long-term outcomes for people who survive critical illness, including mental health and recovery aspects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $376,462 |
| NIH project number | 7R35GM154671-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11580346 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have survived critical illness, including sepsis survivors, who meet study criteria.
✕Less likely to help
People not fitting the study’s specific sepsis survivor or brainstem/glucocorticoid pathway criteria may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how glucocorticoids influence recovery after severe illness, with a focus on mechanisms in the brain and body. Researchers plan to study sepsis survivors to see if glucocorticoids improve mental health outcomes by shaping ICU memories, and to examine brainstem glucocorticoid signaling in maintaining cardiovascular and immune balance during acute stress. The work includes testing receptor roles in the brainstem and trying new approaches to boost glucocorticoid sensitivity peripherally and centrally, using methods for neural circuit interrogation. The study aims to connect biological pathways to meaningful improvements in survival and quality of life after critical illness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients recovering from critical illness could see improved survival and better mental and physical health during recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests glucocorticoids can affect short-term survival and mental health, but many mechanisms remain uncertain and this program seeks to clarify them.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spencer-Segal, Joanna Louise — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Spencer-Segal, Joanna Louise
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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.