NIH-funded research R01 grant

Understanding immune response during sepsis

Official title: Modulation of innate immune exhaustion during sepsis

Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11010874 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how the immune system gets tired during sepsis, a serious condition, to find out more about the immune cells involved, with the hope of discovering better treatments that can help patients recover.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVirginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Blacksburg, United States)
Project startFebruary 13, 2023
Project endJanuary 31, 2028
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$527,487
NIH project number5R01AI172133-03
Project IDNIH-11010874 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with sepsis or at high risk of developing sepsis.

Less likely to help

Patients with non-infectious conditions or those not experiencing sepsis may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates how the immune system becomes exhausted during sepsis, a severe condition that can lead to organ failure. By combining experimental and computational methods, including advanced single-cell RNA sequencing, the study aims to identify the characteristics of immune cells that are both suppressive and inflammatory in sepsis patients. The goal is to develop new strategies to modulate these immune responses to improve patient outcomes. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to more effective treatments for sepsis.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies for sepsis, potentially reducing organ damage and enhancing recovery.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding immune responses in sepsis, but this approach is exploring novel mechanisms that have not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

  • Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
    Blacksburg, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Li, Liwu — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
  • Study coordinator: Li, Liwu

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.