Hyperglycemia, Leukotriene Pathways, and Severe Infections in Diabetes
Official title: Hyperglycemia and increased severity to Staphylococcus aureus infections.
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11348253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A hospital-based research project will explore why high blood sugar makes infections more dangerous for people with diabetes, focusing on inflammatory pathways and a key chemical messenger.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $688,727 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI180777-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348253 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with diabetes or prediabetes who experience infections and may participate through future clinical adaptations or related translation studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetes or those not experiencing infections may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
If you have diabetes, this project looks at how chronic high blood sugar may tilt your immune system toward an overly strong response during infections. Researchers will study the role of a lipid mediator called leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and its receptor BLT1, and how high glucose changes gene activity related to these pathways in animal models. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that make infections more severe so future treatments can be developed. The work will involve examining epigenetic changes that boost inflammatory signals after exposure to pathogens. This could lead to new strategies to reduce organ damage and improve survival during sepsis in diabetics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted therapies that lessen inflammation and improve outcomes for people with diabetes who develop serious infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in animals suggest that modulating LTB4/BLT1 signaling can affect inflammation and infection outcomes, supporting potential translational value.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Serezani, C. Henrique — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Serezani, C. Henrique
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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.