UAMS researcher gets $2.2M federal grant for pneumonia study

Clay Jackson-Litteken will lead a five-year study on ventilator-assisted pneumonia with a new federal grant.

The National Institutes of Health awarded the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences $2,228,534 for the project. Jackson-Litteken, an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, received the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. The funding supports research into how to prevent infections in hospital patients who require mechanical breathing support.

Hospital staff insert endotracheal tubing into a patient’s airway to keep it open. This process scrapes the airway lining and disrupts natural functions like mucous flow. The tubing can then connect to a ventilator. This setup creates conditions where bacteria can grow easily. Nearly half of patients placed on ventilation develop an infection known as ventilator-assisted pneumonia.

The study focuses on Acinetobacter baumannii, a type of bacteria that resists standard antibiotics. Jackson-Litteken noted that many of these infections are caused by such resistant strains. He stated that these cases can be difficult or sometimes impossible to treat with current therapies. His team plans to develop accurate models of the pneumonia to observe key drivers of the infection. They will also assess various tubing treatments to see if they can prevent the disease from developing.

Jon S. Blevins, chair of the microbiology and immunology department, praised the researcher’s work. Blevins said the award recognizes the creativity and impact of Jackson-Litteken’s research program. He highlighted the innovative approach to understanding and combating hospital-acquired infections. The department expects the work to influence both scientific discovery and patient care.

The project is titled “Harnessing innovative platforms to study and prevent Acinetobacter ventilator-associated pneumonia.” The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases supports the grant under Award Number DP2A1200953. Jackson-Litteken said the research will reveal how pathogens interact with the tubing environment. This knowledge could inform treatments that decrease the incidence of the disease. The content of the study is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent official NIH views.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university. It operates hospitals in Little Rock and Bryant. The university also includes a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville. UAMS Health encompasses a statewide health system with affiliated hospitals in Pine Bluff, Helena-West Helena, Mena, and Warren. The institution is the state’s only adult Level 1 trauma center. It employs about 12,000 people, including 1,200 physicians.