Funding outcome

Late-onset sepsis (LOS) is a life-threatening condition that happens when newborn babies have an extreme response to an infection. The baby's body tries so hard to fight off the infection that it ends up damaging itself in the process. LOS affects 0.6%-14% of hospitalized babies, depending on the region, and is associated with a high mortality rate. It affects all organs and can lead to lifelong health problems in those who recover. In LOS, the liver plays 3 major roles: 1) help coordinate with the immune system to help the body fight off infection; 2) provide energy to fight the infection; and 3) provide energy needed for the baby's growth and development. One unfortunate byproduct of the liver's response to infection is the production of toxic molecules that could damage mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. Once damaged, mitochondria could further produce even more toxic molecules, resulting in a cycle of cell damage. In this project, we will study whether a molecule named Elamipretide could improve liver cell damage in LOS. Elamipretide specifically targets mitochondria and reduces their production of toxic molecules. This work could lead to the identification of a new treatment to reduce or prevent organ damage in very sick babies affected by LOS, and in turn promote better lifelong health in affected individuals.