Stopping inflammation after severe injury and bleeding
Official title: Inflammasome activation in trauma-hemorrhagic shock
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11322225 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether blocking a specific inflammation pathway could help people who suffer severe trauma and major blood loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2013 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $58,734 |
| NIH project number | 3R01GM102146-13S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322225 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have experienced severe traumatic injury with large-volume blood loss or hemorrhagic shock and are at risk for multiple organ failure would be the likely candidates for related future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with minor injuries, chronic non-traumatic inflammatory conditions, or bleeding unrelated to trauma are unlikely to benefit directly from this line of research.
What this research studies
If you've had a severe traumatic injury with heavy bleeding, researchers are studying how a protein in your cells called caspase-4 (and the similar caspase-11 in mice) turns on inflammation that can damage organs. They use laboratory experiments and animal models to trace this non-canonical inflammasome pathway after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation. The team is testing whether preventing caspase-4/11 activation reduces inflammation, cell death, and organ injury. Most work is preclinical now, but the goal is to guide new drugs and future clinical trials for trauma patients at risk of multiple organ failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that reduce organ failure and improve survival after severe trauma and bleeding.
How similar studies have gone: Related inflammasome-targeting strategies have shown promise in infection and sepsis models, but applying caspase-4/11 blockade specifically to trauma-driven organ failure is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scott, Melanie J. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Scott, Melanie J.
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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.