Investigating how oxidative stress affects cell death during tuberculosis infection
Official title: Targeting mediators of oxidative stress to limit hyperinflammatory cell death modalities during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11125997 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different ways cells die can affect how severe tuberculosis infections get, and it hopes to find out why some people are more likely to get really sick from it, which could help improve treatments for patients with tuberculosis.
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 | June 24, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $769,168 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI179037-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11125997 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, particularly those with co-morbidities like HIV, diabetes, or malnutrition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or do not have related co-morbidities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how different types of cell death, particularly necrosis and apoptosis, influence the severity of tuberculosis infections. It aims to identify genetic factors that make certain individuals more susceptible to severe disease by studying the role of a specific gene associated with mitochondrial function. By examining how macrophages, a type of immune cell, respond to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the research seeks to uncover mechanisms that could predict disease outcomes and improve treatment strategies. Patients with tuberculosis and related conditions may benefit from insights gained through this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better predictions of disease severity in tuberculosis patients and more targeted treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding cell death mechanisms in infections can lead to significant advancements in treatment, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Watson, Robert Owen — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Watson, Robert Owen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting how oxidative stress drives harmful cell death in TB infection
This grant tests a new approach to reduce deadly cell death patterns in people with tuberculosis, especially those who might also have HIV, by focusing on how oxidative stress influences immune cells.
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Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
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Pulmonary rehabilitation to reduce breathing problems after tuberculosis
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Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
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Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
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Air pollution and TB spread in Ugandan urban slums
This project explores whether exposure to air pollution makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within households in a crowded Ugandan slum.
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.