Investigating how severe infections like pneumonia can lead to premature aging at the epigenetic level.
Official title: Common Post-Infectious Premature Epigenetic Aging
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11076825 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how severe pneumonia might change your body's aging process over time, and it’s for people who have had a serious pneumonia infection; we want to see how these changes could affect your health in the long run.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $602,079 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG078268-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11076825 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently experienced severe pneumonia and are recovering from the infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had severe infections or those with chronic health conditions unrelated to pneumonia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the long-term effects of severe infections, particularly pneumonia, on epigenetic aging. It aims to identify specific epigenetic changes that occur after infection and how these changes may contribute to increased risks of mortality, inflammation, and decreased immune function. Participants who have experienced severe pneumonia will be followed for 24 months after treatment, utilizing advanced single-cell sequencing techniques to analyze the persistence of these epigenetic scars. The goal is to clarify the mechanisms behind post-infectious aging and its implications for patient health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for managing the long-term health risks associated with severe infections.
How similar studies have gone: While other studies have explored post-infectious aging, this research is pioneering in its approach to identify specific epigenetic scars linked to post-infectious outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dinardo, Andrew R — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Dinardo, Andrew R
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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.