NIH-funded research R01 grant

Understanding why some people with sepsis develop ARDS after ozone exposure

Official title: Mechanisms underlying susceptibility to ozone-induced ARDS

Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11274655 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study to learn why certain patients with sepsis develop acute lung injury and ARDS after exposure to air pollutants like ozone.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project startJune 1, 2026
Project endMarch 31, 2031
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$554,766
NIH project number1R01HL183635-01
Project IDNIH-11274655 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with sepsis or at risk of ARDS, particularly those with genetic variations in SP-D and related inflammatory pathways.

Less likely to help

People without sepsis or those not exposed to ozone-related risk factors may not benefit from these findings.

What this research studies

This project looks at how ozone exposure might worsen lung injury in sepsis and why only some people are affected. Researchers will study immune cells in the lungs, especially alveolar macrophages and neutrophils, and how they clear inflammation. They will also examine a lung protein called SP-D and how genetic differences could influence inflammation and risk of ARDS. The goal is to identify biological factors that raise ARDS risk so future therapies can be targeted to high-risk patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better risk prediction and new interventions to prevent ARDS in vulnerable patients after sepsis and air pollution exposure.

How similar studies have gone: There is prior evidence linking ozone exposure to worse lung inflammation and macrophage dysfunction, but detailed mechanisms and genetic influences remain under investigation.

Where this research is happening

  • Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
    Newark, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Radbel, Jared M. — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
  • Study coordinator: Radbel, Jared M.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Coordinating ARDS, Pneumonia, and Sepsis research to improve care

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  • Lipid-gene Profiles in Septic ARDS

    A Mayo Clinic team is studying how dysfunctional HDL in sepsis relates to different ARDS patient outcomes, aiming to find features that could guide better treatment.

    NIH research Mayo Clinic Jacksonville · Jacksonville, United States · NIH-11575353

  • Improving blood vessel repair after pediatric ARDS

    Aims to better repair the lungs of children who have ARDS by delivering targeted therapy to lung blood vessels using tiny nanoparticles.

    NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-11444432

  • NOX4 links to ARDS risk and progression

    Aims to understand how NOX4-driven cell damage may make some adults with ARDS worse off and how this could lead to earlier, targeted care.

    NIH research Marquette University · Milwaukee, United States · NIH-11444021

  • Leading causes of death in alcoholic ARDS patients using clinical data

    This project uses big clinical data and AI to find the main factors that cause death in adults with ARDS who have alcohol use issues, aiming to improve understanding and care.

    NIH research Loyola University Chicago · Maywood, United States · NIH-11442761

  • Targeting aging-related blood vessel injury to prevent ARDS in older lungs

    Aims to find ways to protect lung blood vessels in older adults to prevent dangerous lung swelling (ARDS).

    NIH research Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · Chicago, United States · NIH-11431171

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.