Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Code:

NCT06521502

Conditions

ARDS

Sepsis

Pneumonia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Blood collection

Urine Collection

Nasal, oral, and rectal swabs

Stool collection

Heat Moisture Exchange Filter collection

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of the observational APS phenotyping study is to better understand risk factors, potential biomarkers, length and severity of illness, and recovery for adults with ARDS, pneumonia, and/ or sepsis. This study will also generate a biobank of specimens collected from these patients that will be available to investigators for future studies of ARDS, sepsis, and/or pneumonia.

Conditions

ARDS

Sepsis

Pneumonia

Study ID

NCT06521502

Start date

Jul 25, 2024

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Apr 30, 2029

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Apr 30, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

To be eligible for enrollment, a patient must meet all the following inclusion criteria at the time of the first study-specified biospecimen collection (Time 0):

1. Age ≥ 18 years old
2. Admitted (or planned to be admitted) to an intensive care unit (ICU) or other in-patient hospital location where IV vasopressors or advanced respiratory support (invasive mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation, or high flow nasal cannula) are routinely provided (referred to as an "eligible unit.")
3. Acute cardiovascular or pulmonary organ dysfunction defined by meeting at least one of the two criteria below:

  • New receipt of invasive mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation, high flow nasal cannula, or supplemental oxygen at a flow rate of ≥ 6 lpm for acute hypoxemia.

a. Patients who use chronic oxygen therapy are eligible to participate if they are receiving at least 6 lpm higher than their baseline oxygen requirement (e.g., a patient on 3 lpm O2 at baseline is eligible if they require ≥9 lpm for hypoxemia) or are started on advanced respiratory support (invasive mechanical ventilation, non- invasive ventilation, or high flow nasal cannula).
  • Receipt of intravenous infusion of a vasopressor medication for at least one hour.
4. Acute cardiovascular or pulmonary organ dysfunction (inclusion criterion #3) is attributed to an acute inflammatory condition, including but not limited to any of the following:

  • Any infection including pneumonia.
  • Aspiration pneumonitis.
  • Pancreatitis.
  • Auto-inflammatory condition such as:

1. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
2. Suspected acute rheumatologic or auto-immune disease with pulmonary or cardiovascular manifestations.
3. Suspected cryptogenic organizing pneumonia presenting acutely.
4. Suspected diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.
5. Suspected acute anaphylaxis.
6. Suspected acute pulmonary drug toxicity.

Exclusion Criteria:

To be eligible for enrollment, a patient must not meet any of the following exclusion criteria at the time of the first study-specified biospecimen collection (Time 0):

1. Patient/legally authorized representative (LAR) declines participation.
2. Acute cardiovascular or pulmonary organ dysfunction (inclusion criterion #3) has been present for > 48 hours.
3. Patient has been in an eligible unit (inclusion criterion #2) for more than 120 hours (five days).
4. Patient is no longer expected to meet the acute cardiovascular or pulmonary organ dysfunction inclusion criterion (inclusion criterion #3) 24 hours after enrollment.
5. Patient desires comfort measures only.
6. Patient is a prisoner.
7. Patient had out-of-hospital cardiac arrest leading to this hospitalization.
8. Residence immediately before this hospitalization in a long-term acute care facility.
9. Presence of tracheostomy for respiratory failure.
10. Home invasive mechanical ventilation or non-invasive ventilation (except patients with non-invasive ventilation prescribed as a treatment for a sleep disorder may participate).
11. Suspected cause of the patient's acute cardiovascular and/or pulmonary dysfunction (inclusion criterion #3) is an alternative condition (not ARDS, pneumonia, or sepsis), including but not limited to the list below:

  • Drug overdose (without aspiration, lung injury, pneumonia, or infection).
  • Trauma (without aspiration, pneumonia, or infection).
  • Chronic lung disease without suspected infection, aspiration, or inflammation.
  • Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease, neuromuscular respiratory failure.
  • Status epilepticus.
  • Acute pulmonary embolism.
  • Acute decompensated heart failure.
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis.
  • Acute stroke or intracranial hemorrhage.
  • Acute bleeding (GI bleeding, post-procedural bleeding, hemolysis).
  • Cytokine release syndrome due to chemotherapy.
12. Inability or unwillingness to complete study-specified blood draws, for example, due to local policies about hemoglobin thresholds for research blood draws.

Study Design

Enrollment

4000 participants

Anticipated

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

Cohort A (full study protocol - written informed consent)

Cohort A is the cohort of APS study participants who have provided written informed consent for participation in the APS phenotyping study. Cohort A may participate in all study procedures in the APS phenotyping study.

Cohort B (alteration study protocol - alteration of informed consent)

Cohort B is the cohort of APS study participants who are enrolled in the study under alteration of informed consent. Cohort B will participate in a modified set of procedures which omits procedures considered greater than minimal risk.

Long-term Outcomes Cohort

The Long-term Outcomes Cohort consists of a subset of participants with written informed consent for study participation (Cohort A) who complete in-person post-hospital study assessments. These in-person study visits are scheduled at 3- and 12-months after initial enrollment in the hospital. Interventions/exposures are denoted for this group for study procedures that are completed during an in-person post-hospital visit.

Interventions

Blood collection

Blood will be collected from a catheter ("IV") that is already in place or using a needle stick into a vein.

Blood will be collected in hospital (Cohorts A, B) and at visits 3 and 12 months following hospitalization for (Long-term Outcomes Cohort).

Urine Collection

Urine will be collected through a urinary catheter that is already in place or by urinating into a cup.

Urine will be collected in hospital only (Cohorts A, B)

Nasal, oral, and rectal swabs

Nasal, oral, and rectal swabs inserted into the nose, mouth, and rectum, respectively. The swabs will be rubbed inside the cavity and then removed the swab.

Oral and nasal swabs will also be collected in hospital (Cohort A, B) and at visits 3 and 12 months following hospitalization for (Long-term Outcomes Cohort). Rectal swabs will be collected in hospital only (Cohorts A, B).

Stool collection

Stool will be collected either in a cup after defecation or by collecting it from a tube or bag that may already be in place that is catching stool.

Stool will be collected in hospital (Cohorts A, B) and at visits 3 and 12 months following hospitalization (Long Term Outcomes Cohort).

Heat Moisture Exchange Filter collection

An HME filter is a sponge that is placed in the tubing between a patient and breathing machine. It reduces the amount of heat and moisture a patient loses when on a breathing machine. Moisture from breath is collected in this filter. The filter is changed every few hours. When the filter is changed, it will be saved to collect the moisture that it contains and run tests on it.

HME filters will be collected in hospital on intubated patients only (Cohorts A, B).

Tracheal Aspirate sample collection

Patients on a breathing machine have a breathing tube in their trachea that connects their lungs to the breathing machine. A smaller tube, called a suction catheter, will be placed through the larger tube and fluid will be gently sucked out.

Tracheal aspirate will be collected in hospital on intubated patients only (Cohorts A, B)

Non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NBBAL)

The NBBAL procedure involves putting a flexible rubber tube through the breathing tube into the airway of one of the lungs. A small amount of fluid is injected into the lung and then a gentle suction is used to collect fluid. Only patients who pass a safety screen showing that they are not at high risk for complications will have the NBBAL procedure performed.

NBBAL will be performed in hospital on intubated patients only (Cohort A)

Surveys

Participants will be contacted by email, text, and /or phone to give updates about their health. These surveys will ask questions about quality of life, mental health, return to work, and re-admission to the hospital. (Cohort A)

Short physical performance battery

At visits 3 and 12 months following hospitalization (Long-term Outcomes Cohort)

Chair Stand Test: For this test the participant will sit in a chair. They will then stand as quickly as possible without using their upper body to assist them.

Balance Test: For this test the participant will stand unsupported for 10 seconds with their feet in 3 different positions.

4-meter walk: For this test the participant will walk 4 meters as quickly as possible.

Hand grip strength

At visits 3 and 12 months following hospitalization (Long-term Outcomes Cohort):

The participant will squeeze a machine called a hand-held dynamometer 3 times with all their strength.

CNS Vital Signs

At visits 3 and 12 months following hospitalization (Cohort A - Long-term Outcomes Cohort):

The participant will sit at a computer and follow the prompts on the screen. This test takes about 45 minutes.

Muscle Ultrasound

At visits 3 and 12 months following hospitalization (Long-term Outcomes Cohort):

The participant will undergo ultrasound on the quadriceps muscle on the dominant side of their body.

Muscle Strength

At visits 3 and 12 months following hospitalization (Long-term Outcomes Cohort):

A dynamometer will be used to measure muscle strength in the dominant leg.

Spirometry

At a visit 12 months following hospitalization (Long-term Outcomes Cohort):

The participant will have a clip placed on their nose and will be given a plastic mouthpiece that is connected to a machine called a spirometer. They will place their lips tightly around the mouthpiece and take in as big and deep of a breath as possible and then blow out as hard and fast as they can.

Lung Diffusion Testing (DLCO)

At a visit 12 months following hospitalization (Long-term Outcomes Cohort):

The participant will have a clip on their nose. They will put their mouth over a mouthpiece that is attached to a machine. This machine will deliver a small amount of carbon dioxide when they breathe in and will also record the results of the test. They will then take a few normal breaths. Next they will inhale deeply and exhale completely. They will breathe in quickly through their mouth and hold their breath for 10 seconds or as long as they can. Then they will breathe out.

Chest CT Scan

At a visit 12 months following hospitalization (Long-term Outcomes Cohort):

The participant will undergo a Chest Computed Tomography (CT) scan which uses special X-ray equipment to take detailed pictures of the lungs.

Primary outcome measure

  • ARDS, pneumonia, and sepsis classification [ Time Frame: Through day 7 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center

Recruiting

Fresno, California, United States, 93721

Contacts

Eyad Almasri, MD

eyad.almasri@ucsf.edu

Stanford University

Recruiting

Palo Alto, California, United States, 94305

Contacts

Angela Rogers, MD

ajrogers@stanford.edu

San Francisco General Hospital

Recruiting

San Francisco, California, United States, 94110

Contacts

Carolyn Hendrickson, MD, MPH

carolyn.hendrickson@ucsf.edu

University of California, San Francisco

Recruiting

San Francisco, California, United States, 94143

Contacts

Carolyn Calfee, MD

carolyn.calfee@ucsf.edu

University of Colorado, Denver

Recruiting

Denver, Colorado, United States, 80045

Contacts

Denver Health and Hospital Authority

Recruiting

Denver, Colorado, United States, 80204

Contacts

Jason Mansoori, MD

jason.mansoori@dhha.org

National Jewish Health

Recruiting

Denver, Colorado, United States, 80206

Contacts

William Janssen, MD

janssenw@njhealth.org

UC Health Medical Center of the Rockies

Recruiting

Loveland, Colorado, United States, 80538

Contacts

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Recruiting

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611

Contacts

Richard Wunderink, MD

r-wunderink@northwestern.edu

University of Chicago

Recruiting

Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60637

Contacts

Johns Hopkins Univeristy

Recruiting

Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21218

Contacts

Dale Needham, MD, PhD

dneedha2@jh.edu

University of Michigan

Recruiting

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109

Contacts

Robert Hyzy, MD

rhyzy@med.umich.edu

Washington University School of Medicine

Recruiting

St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110

Contacts

Pratik Sinha, MBChB, PhD

p.sinha@wustl.edu

Duke University

Recruiting

Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710

Contacts

Christina Barkauskas, MD

christina.barkauskas@duke.edu

University of Cincinnati

Recruiting

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45219

Contacts

R. Duncan Hite, MD

hitern@ucmail.uc.edu

University of Pennsylvania

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Contacts

Meharry Medical College

Recruiting

Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37208

Contacts

Richard Freemont, MD

rfremont@mmc.edu

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Recruiting

Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232

Contacts

Principal Investigator:

Lorraine Ware, MD

Intermountain Medical Center

Recruiting

Murray, Utah, United States, 84107

Contacts

Samuel Brown, MD, MS

samuel.brown@imail.org

University of Utah

Recruiting

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84132

Contacts

Estelle Harris, MD

estelle.harris@hsc.utah.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Last update posted

Feb 20, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Keywords

  • acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • sepsis
  • pneumonia
  • phenotype
  • endotype
  • critical illness

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Vanderbilt University Medical Center on 2026-02-20.