Intermountain Health to Lead National Effort to Improve Treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Pneumonia, and Sepsis
Murray, UT – Intermountain Health has been chosen as one of the six core health care systems to spearhead a nationwide initiative aimed at improving treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, and sepsis. These conditions, which often occur together and lead to high mortality rates, are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in the United States each year.
In an interview, Dr. Samuel Brown, vice president for research and research professor at Intermountain Health, likened the current treatment approach to treating different fruits as if they were all the same. This initiative aims to identify the distinct subtypes within these syndromes and develop targeted treatments accordingly.
Intermountain Health will receive a $51.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to gather information from 5,000 patients across the country. The data collected will aid in understanding the progression of these illnesses and potential long-term effects on survivors. The enrollment of patients is scheduled to begin in early 2024.
Researchers will employ various assessments, including blood and genetic tests, to collect critical information about the patients. The initiative will also utilize advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to identify important patterns and subtypes that may have previously gone unnoticed.
Dr. Brown emphasized the importance of maximizing the health and well-being of survivors. “We want to make sure that we understand not only what determines whether you live or die from the acute illness, but for those who are fortunate enough to survive, what are the right ways to work with them to maximize their health and flourishing as they survive,” he stated.
Being selected as one of the lead sites for this consortium is a testament to Intermountain Health’s expertise and legacy in the field. The consortium includes other renowned institutions such as the University of California San Francisco, the University of Colorado, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Intermountain Health is excited about the opportunity to continue leading national scientific investigations and coordinated planning in these critical areas. The use of AI and machine learning, combined with a better understanding of subtypes, holds the promise of developing more targeted and effective treatments for these life-threatening conditions.
With the enrollment of patients set to begin in a few years, Intermountain Health is eager to contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge and improve outcomes for critically ill patients nationwide.