Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received $873,700 in federal funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), with an award date of May 15, 2026 and completion date of February 28, 2030. The project investigates the contribution of superoxide influx via leucine-rich repeat containing 8 (LRRC8) anion channels to vascular dysfunction in sepsis. Research deliverables include scientific investigations examining how LRRC8A/C channels regulate vascular inflammation during infectious challenges, with particular focus on the mechanisms by which superoxide influx alters vascular contractility and endothelial barrier function.

The research will generate basic science discoveries regarding the pathophysiology of sepsis-induced vascular dysfunction and test the therapeutic potential of blocking LRRC8 channels using FDA-approved pharmaceuticals as a post-infectious rescue intervention. Anticipated products include peer-reviewed publications, experimental data characterizing the role of LRRC8 channels in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell responses to inflammatory challenges, and translational findings that may inform development of novel therapeutic approaches to address the significant vascular dysfunction and capillary leak that characterize sepsis in intensive care settings.