How the ROCK protein may weaken the premature baby's gut in NEC and sepsis
Official title: ROCK, tight junctions and prematurity in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis and neonatal sepsis.
Funded at University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr · NIH-11286767 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether blocking a protein called ROCK can help protect the gut lining of premature newborns and lower their chance of necrotizing enterocolitis and newborn sepsis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $480,675 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133207-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11286767 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be premature newborns in the NICU who are at risk for NEC or sepsis, or parents willing to allow use of their infant's tissue samples or clinical data for research.
✕Less likely to help
Full-term infants or older children without NEC risk are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project studies how the ROCK protein affects the gut barrier in premature infants by combining lab experiments, animal models, and examination of tissue from babies with and without NEC. Researchers will look at tight junctions, the cell scaffolding that keeps gut microbes out, and how caveolin-1 and cell-death pathways are involved. They will test whether inhibiting ROCK preserves intestinal barrier function and reduces inflammation and infection in models that mimic premature newborns. The goal is to identify mechanisms and possible treatment targets that could later be tested in babies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new treatments that strengthen the premature infant gut and reduce rates of NEC and life-threatening neonatal sepsis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior preclinical work has shown that inhibiting ROCK can protect intestinal barrier function in lab and animal models, but applying this to human newborns remains early and novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunter, Catherine Jane — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hunter, Catherine Jane
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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.