Neutrophils help heal the lung's blood vessels after sepsis-related injury
Official title: Novel role of neutrophils in mediating endothelial regeneration and vascular repair in sepsis and ARDS
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11295761 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how a specific white blood cell (neutrophil) helps repair lung blood vessels in severe lung injury from sepsis or ARDS, which could lead to new treatments.
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 | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $781,860 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL179839-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11295761 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults with ARDS or sepsis-related lung injury who may contribute samples or participate in future translational studies connected to this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with ARDS due to causes other than sepsis or those not involved in sample collection or future trials may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how neutrophils may support healing of the lung's blood vessel lining after sepsis-induced injury. Using animal models and human-like analyses, scientists will examine endothelial barrier repair and identify neutrophil subtypes involved in vascular restoration. The work includes genetic and molecular approaches to understand how neutrophils contribute to recovery, with an emphasis on endothelial regeneration after inflammatory damage. Findings may pinpoint new targets to promote lung repair in ARDS patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to therapies that enhance endothelial repair and reduce mortality in ARDS caused by sepsis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows neutrophils can both harm and help lung tissue; this study explores a novel, potentially transformative role in endothelial repair.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, You-Yang — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Zhao, You-Yang
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coordinating ARDS, Pneumonia, and Sepsis research to improve care
A national coordinating center helps researchers studying ARDS and related infections work together more efficiently to learn what helps patients recover.
-
Innovative immune therapy with antibiotics to treat deadly inflammation in sepsis and ARDS in older adults
A new approach combines an antibiotic strategy with a special immune-based treatment to help older patients who have sepsis or ARDS from severe bacterial infection.
-
A new immune-blocking therapy plus antibiotics for severe sepsis and ARDS in older adults
This project is trying a treatment that restores a natural TREM1 blocker together with antibiotics to help older adults with life-threatening bacterial sepsis or ARDS.
-
Understanding ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis: a big study to map how illness and recovery unfold
A large patient study at the University of Pennsylvania will follow adults with ARDS, pneumonia, or sepsis to learn how these conditions progress and recover over time.
-
Coordination and data sharing for ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis research
A national collaborative effort to improve how researchers study ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis by coordinating centers, data collection, and analyses.
-
Molecular profiling of ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis in adults using advanced sequencing
A research team at four California hospitals will study adults with ARDS, pneumonia, or sepsis to identify molecular patterns in their illness using genetic sequencing.
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.