Understanding how fat metabolism affects tissue damage in flesh-eating disease
Official title: Targeting host lipid metabolism to limit tissue damage in necrotizing fasciitis
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11005203 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in fat processing in our cells might affect how badly necrotizing fasciitis, a serious infection, can harm our bodies, with the hope of finding new ways to help patients heal better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $693,175 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175831-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11005203 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis who are undergoing treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of infections or those not affected by necrotizing fasciitis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates necrotizing fasciitis, a severe bacterial infection that causes rapid tissue destruction. It aims to explore how changes in lipid metabolism within host cells can influence the severity of the disease. By utilizing advanced techniques such as mass spectrometry and single-cell sequencing, the study will analyze how inflammatory signals affect cellular resistance to harmful toxins produced by bacteria. The goal is to identify new treatment strategies that could mitigate tissue damage and improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic approaches that significantly reduce tissue damage and improve survival rates in patients with necrotizing fasciitis.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of targeting lipid metabolism in necrotizing fasciitis is novel, similar strategies have shown promise in other bacterial infections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bensinger, Steven J — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Bensinger, Steven J
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.