Understanding how secreted messengers cause systemic inflammation in humans
Official title: In vivo analysis of secretory pathways driving systemic inflammation
Funded at Loyola University Chicago · NIH-11442322 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH grant will study which secreted proteins drive systemic inflammation in living bodies, with a focus on conditions like sepsis and autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola University Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Maywood, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $77,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AI202285-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442322 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with autoimmune diseases or those at risk of sepsis or cytokine storm who may benefit from therapies developed from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
People without inflammatory or autoimmune conditions may not directly benefit from these discoveries.
What this research studies
Researchers will create mouse models that light up when specific secreted proteins are produced, allowing them to see which cells and pathways start inflammation in a living system. This approach aims to map the exact proteins and their cellular sources that push inflammation from local sites to the whole body. The work uses innovative secretome reporter mice to observe in vivo how different secretion routes contribute to systemic inflammatory responses. The goal is to identify potential targets to reduce widespread inflammation and protect organs from damage in severe illnesses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify new targets to treat or prevent dangerous systemic inflammation in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Similar secretomics approaches in controlled models have begun to reveal cell-type-specific inflammatory mediators, supporting the potential of this strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abbineni, Prabhodh Sai — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Abbineni, Prabhodh Sai
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.