Understanding how to care for heart injury during sepsis
Official title: Informing best practices for evaluation and treatment of myocardial injury during sepsis
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11333319 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how doctors evaluate and treat heart injury that can happen when sepsis occurs, using real patient records to find better, more actionable care patterns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $673,677 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169521-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333319 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with sepsis who develop myocardial injury and whose care is captured in participating health systems’ electronic health records.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without sepsis or without evidence of myocardial injury are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze electronic health records from two large health systems to identify how patients with sepsis and heart injury are tested and treated, and which factors predict who benefits from certain treatments. The project aims to map current practice and determine which approaches work best for different patients. By focusing on real-world data, this work seeks to generate practical guidance for clinicians managing myocardial injury in sepsis. The goal is to benchmark care and inform decision-making for therapies, including blood thinners, used in these patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could use clearer guidance to personalize treatment for septic patients with heart injury, potentially improving outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Similar observational analyses with EHR data have shaped sepsis care, but this project aims to provide more actionable, pathway-specific guidance.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walkey, Allan J. — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Walkey, Allan J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving care for heart injury during sepsis
This project aims to find better ways to understand and treat heart muscle injury that can happen when someone has sepsis.
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Understanding heart injury caused by sepsis
This study looks at how sepsis can harm the heart and aims to find the best ways to treat patients with this condition, especially by checking if blood thinners can help improve their recovery.
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Steroids and better antibiotics for sepsis in people with AIDS in Africa
This study tests whether adding hydrocortisone and stronger antibiotics can improve survival for adults with sepsis who also have AIDS or advanced immune suppression in regions with high TB.
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Coordinating ARDS, Pneumonia, and Sepsis research to improve care
A national coordinating center helps researchers studying ARDS and related infections work together more efficiently to learn what helps patients recover.
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.