Capital District Times

Scientists at Albany Medical College have been awarded a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate the role of endothelial cells in organ failure. The study, led by Dr. Alejandro Adam, an associate professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, will span five years.

Dr. Adam explained that previous research has highlighted the critical role of the endothelium during severe illnesses when organs fail to function properly. Endothelial cells, which line blood and lymphatic vessels, are essential for regulating blood flow and preventing clotting but can be damaged during critical illness or sepsis. This damage can cause the release of cytokines, small proteins that regulate immune responses but may also lead to excessive clotting and swelling, contributing to tissue damage and organ failure.

The research team will utilize human primary endothelial cells, transgenic mouse models specific to endothelial cells, and human specimens to study interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine implicated in organ failure. Their objective is to distinguish between immune response mechanisms that clear pathogens and those causing damage.

“Answering these critical questions is crucial to discovering the key determinants of organ failure,” said Dr. Adam. “We hope that the knowledge gained from this study will lead to the development of innovative new therapies that prevent organ damage without suppressing the body’s immune response.”

The project is titled "Endothelial mechanisms of multiorgan dysfunction" and receives support from NIH's National Institute of General Medical Sciences.