Funding outcome

Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection. It is responsible for 1.4 million newborn deaths each year around the world. Although neonatal sepsis has immediate consequences for infant health, it's potential effects on development, and in turn on long-term health, cannot be ignored. Indeed, heart disease has become an emerging issue among adult survivors of sepsis. One major player to the progression of neonatal sepsis is the kidney. In addition to filtering the blood regulating salt and fluid balance, the kidney also functions to regulate blood pressure. In neonatal sepsis, the body's immune response to the infection may affect kidney development, with long-term consequences in cardiovascular health. In this project, we will study the effects of neonatal sepsis on kidney development and function. To study this, a model is required; we will induce sepsis into newborn rats by injecting fecal slurry. After induction of sepsis, we will study kidney mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, using advanced techniques developed in our laboratory. We will determine whether the immune responses affect mitochondria in kidney, thereby impairing much-needed energy production during this critical period of kidney growth and development. This project will identify the role of mitochondrial function in regard to neonatal sepsis and how it affects kidney development and function. This information will serve as the potential basis for mitochondria-targeting therapeutics to promote health and prevent the deleterious effects of neonatal sepsis on kidney function.