Understanding how fats in the body may help obese patients survive sepsis better
Official title: The Role of Lipids in Obesity-mediated Protection in Sepsis
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-10888380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how being overweight might actually help people with sepsis, a serious infection, survive better, and it will check if certain fat levels in the body play a role in this, as well as how cholesterol-lowering medications might change things.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $114,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HL169804-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10888380 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include obese individuals who have been diagnosed with sepsis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not obese or those who do not have sepsis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the surprising link between obesity and improved survival rates in patients with sepsis, a severe infection that can lead to organ failure. By analyzing existing clinical data and blood samples from sepsis patients, the study aims to explore how lipid levels in the body may influence outcomes during sepsis. The researchers will assess whether higher fat levels correlate with better survival and if using a cholesterol-lowering medication affects this protective effect. This approach could lead to new treatment strategies for sepsis based on metabolic factors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic approaches that improve survival rates for patients with sepsis, particularly those who are obese.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated a paradoxical relationship between obesity and sepsis outcomes, suggesting that this area of investigation may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Starr, Marlene Elena — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Starr, Marlene Elena
Related research
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-
Why obesity may protect people during sepsis
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-
How sepsis changes body fat in children and how obesity affects that
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How obesity may help protect against sepsis
This study is looking into how being overweight might actually help some people with sepsis, a serious illness, by understanding how it affects their immune system and metabolism, with the goal of finding new treatments to make sepsis safer for everyone.
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This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
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Role of blood flow mechanics and transfusion in sepsis-related tiny-cl vessel clots
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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.