How mitochondria affect metabolism after a burn
The Role of the Mitochondrion in the Metabolic Stress Response to Burn Trauma
This project looks at whether changes in mitochondria cause the high metabolism and tissue loss people often have after severe burns and could point to better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136508 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this work focuses on why the body stays in a high-energy, damaging state after a burn by studying mitochondria, the cell's energy makers. The team will use new rodent models with isotopically labeled fat and muscle to trace how tissues are broken down, moved, and oxidized after burn injury. They will measure mitochondrial energy use, free radical production, and release of mitochondrial DNA that might drive inflammation and insulin resistance. The goal is to connect these laboratory findings to the muscle wasting, altered lipid use, and prolonged recovery seen in burn survivors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have experienced moderate to severe burn injuries and who are concerned about long-term metabolic problems would be the eventual beneficiaries of this work.
Not a fit: Those with minor, superficial burns or anyone expecting an immediate new therapy should not expect direct benefit from this primarily laboratory-based project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal mitochondrial targets or biomarkers that lead to treatments to reduce muscle loss, inflammation, and speed recovery after severe burns.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked mitochondrial dysfunction to post-burn hypermetabolism and inflammation, but the use of isotopically labeled tissue models to trace turnover is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Little Rock, United States
- Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst — Little Rock, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Porter, Craig — Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Porter, Craig
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 below.