# Utilizing publicly available data to improve long-term quality of life following pediatric sepsis while fostering a new generation of sepsis investigators

> **NIH NIH R03** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2022 · $76,250

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Community-acquired septic shock is a major cause of death among children and often leads to poor long-term
health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) among survivors. Long-term HRQL following pediatric septic shock may be
affected by many baseline and clinical factors that have not yet been adequately investigated. The long-term
goal of this research is to improve outcomes from pediatric community-acquired septic shock. The overall
objective is to identify modifiable factors related to the clinical course of children with septic shock as well as pre-
existing child or environmental factors that may impact long-term morbidity and mortality. The central hypothesis
is that identifiable, modifiable factors during pediatric community-acquired septic shock may affect the risk of
long-term morbidity and mortality among children encountering septic shock, as well as the risk of family
dysfunction and psychological distress among their caregivers. The expected outcomes of the research are new
knowledge about factors contributing to adverse child and family outcomes following pediatric septic shock. This
new knowledge will have a positive impact because it will provide an evidence-base for the development and
testing of new interventions targeted at modifiable factors. The specific aims of this project are Aim 1) Identify
baseline characteristics that are associated with impaired long-term functional status and health-related quality
of life among children following community-acquired septic shock. Aim 2) Identify aspects of the clinical course
that are associated with impaired long-term functional status and health-related quality of life among children
following community-acquired septic shock. Aim 3) Identify factors associated with long-term family functioning
and psychological distress of the primary caregiver following their child’s hospitalization for community-acquired
septic shock. The approach to address these aims is to collaborate with junior investigators and their local
mentors from several academic institutions to answer important questions about pediatric sepsis using a publicly
available dataset from the NIH-funded Life After Pediatric Sepsis Evaluation (LAPSE) study. Junior investigators
will be provided with complete biostatistical support and additional mentorship from experts in pediatric sepsis
and the LAPSE study. This contribution is significant because it will provide an evidence basis for designing
definitive clinical trials and developing clinical protocols that address modifiable factors to optimizing care and
improving long-term child and family outcomes following septic shock. The research proposed is innovative
because it will result in a substantial departure from the status quo by introducing junior investigators to the
benefits of using established public use databases and providing them with an educational experience in their
use.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10385710
- **Project number:** 5R03HD104001-02
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Ron William Reeder
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $76,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-06 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10385710

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10385710, Utilizing publicly available data to improve long-term quality of life following pediatric sepsis while fostering a new generation of sepsis investigators (5R03HD104001-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10385710. Licensed CC0.

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