Stabilizing neutrophil 'traps' to prevent tissue damage in sepsis and sickle cell disease
NET stabilization: mechanistic and therapeutic studies studying the role of NETs in thromboinflammatory disease
This project develops a way to stabilize neutrophil traps (NETs) so people with sepsis or sickle cell disease can better catch bacteria without causing extra tissue damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304516 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Your immune cells called neutrophils can release web-like NETs that trap bacteria, but when NETs break down they can injure blood vessels and organs. Researchers are studying a protein called platelet factor 4 (PF4) and a modified antibody that make NETs more compact and resistant to harmful degradation. They will use lab experiments, mouse sepsis models, and analyses of human-derived materials to see whether this approach improves bacterial capture while reducing release of damaging NET breakdown products. The aim is to find a treatment that protects patients from infection-driven inflammation without increasing infection risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with sepsis or sickle cell disease—especially those experiencing severe infections or recurrent NET-related inflammation—would be the main candidates for related clinical studies.
Not a fit: People without sepsis or sickle cell disease, or whose symptoms are driven by other causes, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce organ damage and deaths from sepsis and lessen chronic inflammation in people with sickle cell disease by improving NET antibacterial function without releasing harmful breakdown products.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical mouse studies showed that a modified antibody enhancing PF4 improved survival in sepsis models, but human testing of this NET-stabilizing approach remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gollomp, Kandace — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Gollomp, Kandace
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 below.