Intestinal macrophages and blood vessel growth in newborns to prevent NEC
Official title: Intestinal embryonic macrophage dysfunction and necrotizing enterocolitis
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11449166 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how infant gut immune cells and blood vessels interact and proposes ways to prevent a dangerous newborn intestinal disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $799,603 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK144279-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449166 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Newborns or infants at risk for NEC, and samples from human NEC tissues for comparative analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy term infants or unrelated pediatric patients are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
The project explores why NEC, a serious gut illness in premature infants, develops and how embryonic macrophages influence gut blood vessel growth. Researchers focus on how these immune cells near gut vessels produce signals that support vascular development and how stress can change their behavior. The work uses mouse models and human tissue to understand the role of JamL and IGF1 in intestinal vessels and disease progression. Findings could point to new strategies to protect the intestines of at-risk newborns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new approaches to prevent NEC or reduce its severity in premature infants.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests embryonic macrophages influence blood vessel growth, but direct links to NEC prevention are novel and require further validation.
Where this research is happening
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Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Plaen, Isabelle G — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: De Plaen, Isabelle G
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.