How aging fat tissue affects the body's response to severe infections
Official title: Role of adipose tissue inflammaging and metabolic dysfunction during sepsis
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-10994138 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why older adults are more likely to get seriously ill from infections, focusing on how changes in their body fat might affect their immune response, and it aims to help us understand how to better protect older people from sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $501,347 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079913-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10994138 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those over 65, who are at a higher risk for sepsis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients under 65 or those without risk factors for sepsis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates why older adults are more susceptible to sepsis, a severe response to infection. It focuses on the role of visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT), which undergoes changes with age that may lead to increased inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. By studying immune cells in aged fat tissue, the research aims to understand how these changes contribute to the heightened risk of sepsis in older individuals. The approach includes examining the signaling pathways that regulate fat metabolism and inflammation during sepsis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments and preventive strategies for sepsis in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that targeting inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in older adults can improve outcomes in similar conditions, suggesting a promising avenue for this investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Camell, Christina — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Camell, Christina
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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.