Why some people don't regain strength after ARDS

Immune, hormonal, and muscle mitochondrial determinants of recovery in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome survivors

NIH-funded research Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11184324

This project looks at whether lasting immune, hormone, and muscle energy problems explain why some adults who survived ARDS stay weak after leaving the hospital.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionColumbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11184324 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, researchers will enroll adults who survived ARDS at hospital discharge and follow them for 12 months. At three months they will bring a subgroup in for in-person testing to compare people who have recovered physically with those who have not. Tests will include blood tests for immune and hormone markers plus measures of muscle function and muscle energy (mitochondrial) performance. The work is being done at Columbia University and Johns Hopkins and aims to find biological reasons for ongoing weakness.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (aged 21 and older) who recently survived ARDS and are willing to attend follow-up visits at the study sites are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who have already fully recovered their physical function, are under 21, or cannot travel for in-person visits are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify treatable biological targets to help improve muscle strength and physical recovery after ARDS.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked inflammation and hormonal changes to muscle weakness after critical illness, but targeted treatments for ARDS-related long-term weakness remain largely unproven.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Acute Respiratory Distress SyndromeAdult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.