Sepsis is estimated to kill around 250,000 Americans each year. In 2018, the state of Tennessee alone saw nearly 1,000 deaths as a result of sepsis. Anahita Khojandi’s JDRD work could lay the foundation for improving those outcomes.

Microbiology, or the study of microorganisms, has been a growing field since microscopes revealed the existence of these tiny organisms. Microbes have been shown to have far reaching impacts, including in a number of functions of the human body, plant and animal waste decomposition, and more. Microbes are widely recognized as important parts of life on this planet, despite being previously unknown.

Experimental research is dynamic. Sometimes everything happens just as it was modeled or predicted. Sometimes experiments have surprising outcomes or complications. However, these complications can lead to new competencies and stronger outcomes.

As technology and modern medicine continue to advance, the human microbiome is becoming less mysterious. Most people now understand that their bodies are populated by a variety of different bacteria, many of which support bodily functions like digestion. In recent years this microbiome has been linked to any number of conditions including arthritis and obesity. Attempts at managing this microbiome, including the use of probiotic supplements, have also seen increases despite an incomplete understanding of how or whether they are effective.