Modeling severe pneumonia caused by the coronavirus
Official title: Systems Biology Modeling of Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11014081 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how severe pneumonia caused by the coronavirus affects patients, using samples from their lungs to find ways to better predict their recovery and improve treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | January 17, 2018 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $490,040 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI135964-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11014081 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with severe community-acquired pneumonia, particularly those requiring mechanical ventilation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild pneumonia or those not infected with SARS-CoV-2 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) linked to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by collecting and analyzing respiratory samples from patients. It employs advanced multi-omics techniques and machine learning to understand how patients transition through different clinical states during their hospitalization. The goal is to develop a comprehensive model that can predict patient outcomes and improve treatment strategies for severe pneumonia. By leveraging extensive clinical data, the research aims to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could enhance patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment protocols and reduced mortality rates for patients suffering from severe pneumonia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using systems biology approaches to understand pneumonia and improve treatment outcomes, indicating a promising avenue for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wunderink, Richard G — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Wunderink, Richard G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Azithromycin vs doxycycline with beta-lactam in hospitalized adults with pneumonia
In hospitalized adults with community-acquired pneumonia, this study will compare two antibiotic combinations to see which works better and is safer.
-
Combined immunomodulatory effect of macrolides and corticosteroids in hospitalized CAP patients
This study looks at whether adding macrolide antibiotics to steroids helps or harms people hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
-
Blocking ANGPTL4 to help people with severe community-acquired pneumonia
This project will test whether blocking the blood protein ANGPTL4 helps adults hospitalized with severe community-acquired pneumonia recover faster and survive more often.
-
Pediatric pneumonia severity score (PedCAPS)
This project will create and check a simple score to predict how serious pneumonia will be in children who come to the emergency room.
-
Ketogenic diet to help muscle in older adults with pneumonia
A small trial will test if a short 10-day ketogenic (low carb, high fat) feeding helps preserve muscle and speed recovery in people 65 and older hospitalized with pneumonia.
-
Using systems biology to understand severe community-acquired pneumonia
This project analyzes patients' lung and blood samples with advanced lab tests and computer models to find biological patterns that can help guide treatment for people with severe pneumonia, including COVID-related cases.
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.