Tracking immune responses in people with sepsis in Uganda
Multidimensional and longitudinal immune profiling of sepsis in Uganda
Researchers will follow blood immune signals over time in adults with sepsis in Uganda to find different sepsis subtypes that could guide better care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192262 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will enroll adults admitted with sepsis at hospitals in Uganda and collect blood samples at multiple time points. Lab tests will measure gene activity (RNA sequencing) and other immune markers, then machine learning will group patients into biological subtypes or “endotypes.” The team will connect these patterns to the infecting pathogens, HIV status, and patient outcomes to see which patterns predict worse illness or different treatment responses. Analyses will be performed locally and in collaboration with Columbia University to develop methods suited to the regional sepsis landscape.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults hospitalized with sepsis in Uganda, including people living with HIV, are the ideal candidates for participation.
Not a fit: Children, people without sepsis, or patients treated outside the participating Uganda hospitals are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help match treatments to the immune subtype and reduce deaths and harmful interventions in Uganda.
How similar studies have performed: Pilot work in Uganda already found two sepsis endotypes using RNA sequencing and machine learning, and related precision-medicine approaches have identified subtypes in high-income countries, though this larger longitudinal effort is novel for the region.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cummings, Matthew John — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Cummings, Matthew John
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.