# Obesity-mediated protection in sepsis

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2024 · $401,595

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Sepsis is a major burden to the healthcare system being the most common cause for admission to the intensive
care unit and the most expensive condition treated in US hospitals. It is a complex physiologic condition involving
a heterogenous patient population with high morbidity and mortality, and no specific therapies aside from
supportive measures. Clinical studies indicate that obesity is paradoxically associated with improved survival in
sepsis; however, the mechanisms behind this obesity-mediated protection are not known. Capitalizing on the
unique resistance in this patient population may allow for the development of novel therapies to prevent the
morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis. The primary goals of my research program are to 1) investigate
differences in sepsis pathophysiology in patients stratified by obesity status with a major focus on immune
alterations, and 2) define shifts in immune cell function and metabolism in obesity, and determine their roles in
conferring protection during sepsis utilizing a validated murine model and patient samples. The gained
information will aid in the development strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality in sepsis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10764134
- **Project number:** 1R35GM152104-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Marlene Elena Starr
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $401,595
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10764134

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10764134, Obesity-mediated protection in sepsis (1R35GM152104-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10764134. Licensed CC0.

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