How sepsis changes body fat in children and how obesity affects that
Role of STAT3 in sepsis-induced adipose tissue browning and the impact of obesity
['FUNDING_R01'] · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR · NIH-11163921
This work looks at how sepsis changes the type and behavior of fat in children and whether being obese changes those fat responses.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CINCINNATI, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11163921 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If your child is hospitalized with sepsis, researchers will compare fat tissue from children with and without obesity to see whether white fat switches to beige/brown fat (a process called browning) and how that relates to inflammation and new blood vessel growth. The team will measure signaling molecules such as STAT3 and other markers in tissue samples and blood, using lab tests to link findings to prior mouse experiments. By comparing obese and non-obese children, they aim to understand whether obesity changes how fat responds during critical illness and whether those changes relate to recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children hospitalized with sepsis, including both obese and non-obese patients who can provide consent/assent and allow collection of tissue or blood samples, would be the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People without sepsis, children not treated at participating centers, or those unwilling/unable to provide samples would not be able to take part or directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could explain why obesity sometimes appears protective in critical illness and point to ways to protect children with sepsis.
How similar studies have performed: Mouse studies from the investigators' lab showed sepsis causes white fat browning linked to inflammation, but studying this process in children is a new, translational step.
Where this research is happening
CINCINNATI, UNITED STATES
- CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR — CINCINNATI, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KAPLAN, JENNIFER MELISSA — CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR
- Study coordinator: KAPLAN, JENNIFER MELISSA
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.