New ways to understand and treat sepsis-related blood vessel dysfunction
Official title: Novel Approaches to Identifying and Targeting Sepsis-Associated Endothelial Dysfunction
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11390478 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist at a major university is researching how sepsis harms the lining of blood vessels and ways to detect or counteract it to prevent organ failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $187,410 |
| NIH project number | 5K08GM160929-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390478 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with sepsis or at risk of sepsis-related organ dysfunction may benefit from advances stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
The study is primarily investigator training and foundational mechanistic work, so direct patient benefit may be limited during early stages.
What this research studies
This program supports a clinician-scientist to become an independent investigator focused on the mechanisms of sepsis-associated endothelial dysfunction. It uses two human-relevant approaches: a microphysiological system that mimics how sepsis in the blood affects the endothelium and a method to capture circulating endothelial cells from patients with sepsis for study. The goal is to uncover new pathways and potential targets for diagnosis and therapy while gaining advanced skills in endothelial injury techniques and transcriptomics. The 5-year plan combines coursework, hands-on research, and mentoring to build independent investigators who can translate findings into patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better diagnostic tools and targeted therapies to reduce organ failure and deaths from sepsis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches using endothelial models and patient-derived cells have shown promise in identifying mechanisms and potential targets, but sepsis remains highly heterogeneous and translational challenges persist.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Faust, Hilary — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Faust, Hilary
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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.