Immune reactions that drive sepsis and organ injury

Host Immunity in Sepsis-Induced Systemic Infection

NIH-funded research Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-11324173

This research aims to find ways to limit lung and organ damage in people with sepsis by studying how innate immune responses, like inflammasomes, cause inflammation.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionLouisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baton Rouge, United States)
Project IDNIH-11324173 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers are studying how first-line immune responses, including neutrophils and inflammasomes that activate caspase-1, respond when bacterial infections in the abdomen lead to sepsis and spread to the lungs. They focus on how excessive neutrophil recruitment and inflammasome signaling cause acute lung injury and ARDS, using laboratory models and analyses tied to human biology. The team is exploring host-targeted strategies that could protect organs even when bacteria are drug-resistant. Findings may point to ways to adjust immune signals to reduce organ damage during severe infections.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients with sepsis—especially those with abdominal (peritoneal) infections or who develop acute lung injury or ARDS—would be most relevant for this research.

Not a fit: People with non-infectious causes of lung injury or chronic lung diseases unrelated to acute sepsis are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that protect the lungs and other organs during sepsis, lowering death and long-term disability.

How similar studies have performed: Targeting inflammasomes and caspase-1 has shown benefit in animal models but has not yet produced widely effective treatments for human sepsis.

Where this research is happening

Baton Rouge, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acute Lung InjuryAcute Pulmonary InjuryAcute Respiratory Distress SyndromeAdult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.