Muscle energy problems and recovery after critical illness
Official title: The Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Physical Recovery after Critical Illness
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11316972 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether problems with the cell’s energy makers in muscles help explain why many ICU survivors, especially Veterans, have long-lasting weakness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2RX004799-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11316972 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adult Veterans who recently survived a critical illness that required ICU care and who can attend follow-up visits and undergo blood and muscle testing.
✕Less likely to help
People who were not recently in the ICU, are under 21, or cannot undergo blood draws or clinic visits are unlikely to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would join a group of 62 Veterans who survived a critical illness and left the ICU and be followed over time to track physical recovery. At scheduled visits, researchers will measure how well your muscles produce energy using lab tests and blood markers and compare those results to strength and walking tests. The team will analyze whether reduced mitochondrial oxidative capacity in muscle is linked to worse or slower recovery of physical function. Results will be used to help explain persistent weakness after hospitalization and guide future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological causes of lasting weakness after ICU stays and point to new treatments or better rehab strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Some smaller studies and preliminary data indicate mitochondrial problems after critical illness, but directly linking these energy defects to long-term physical recovery is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mart, Matthew Franklin — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Mart, Matthew Franklin
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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.