Using immune profiles to prevent long-term illness in critically ill patients
Official title: Utilizing Immune Phenotypes to Prevent Chronic Critical Illness
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10920365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the immune system can help patients who have been in the ICU avoid long-term health problems after their recovery, by analyzing their blood and immune responses to find ways to improve their healing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $410,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM138020-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10920365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who have been in the ICU for 14 days or more and are at risk of developing chronic critical illness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been critically ill or those who do not meet the ICU admission criteria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how immune system responses can be utilized to prevent patients who survive critical illness from developing chronic critical illness. The study focuses on patients who have spent significant time in the ICU, aiming to identify immune phenotypes that indicate a risk for long-term complications. By analyzing blood samples and immune responses, the research seeks to develop strategies that could improve recovery and reduce the burden of chronic illness. The approach combines clinical observations with basic science to create a comprehensive understanding of immune dysfunction in critically ill patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new interventions that significantly improve the long-term health outcomes of critically ill patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in utilizing immune profiling to predict and improve outcomes in critically ill patients, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nomellini, Vanessa — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Nomellini, Vanessa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Immunological Endotyping and Intervention for Chronic Critical Illness after Sepsis
Aimed at people who have survived sepsis after surgery, this grant seeks to understand why some patients develop long-term organ problems and how to tailor treatments to their immune responses.
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Molecular rules of capillary leak in seriously ill kids
A study looking at why blood vessels become leaky in severely ill children and how that leads to organ failure.
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Heme-Driven Immune Dysregulation in Critical Illness
Researchers are studying how free heme from red blood cell breakdown affects the immune system in people with sepsis or chronic blood disorders, with the aim of guiding better treatments.
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.