Faculty Spotlight – Korupolu gets grant to further studies

Radha Korupolu, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UTHealth Houston, is a physician and clinical researcher who specializes in spinal cord injury (SCI) and the recovery process.

Korupolu joined UTHealth Houston PM&R nearly 10 years ago. Since then, she has not only provided outstanding care for individuals with SCI, but also led efforts to challenge and transform traditional care practices. Early in her clinical work, she observed that many respiratory protocols were being implemented without supporting evidence and often failed to account for the individual needs of patients.

Recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach could lead to suboptimal outcomes—or even harm—Korupolu and her colleagues critically evaluated these practices. Based on their clinical experience and evidence generated through retrospective research studies, they began revising protocols to reflect personalized, patient-specific strategies. These changes led to improved outcomes, including faster ventilator weaning times and a reduced risk of pneumonia.

To generate rigorous evidence for optimal respiratory care, Korupolu was awarded a KL2 Career Development Award from the UTHealth Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (NCATS-funded), along with a pilot grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.

She led a randomized comparative effectiveness pilot trial comparing moderate-low (8–10 mL/kg predicted body weight [PBW]) versus moderate-high (14–16 mL/kg PBW) tidal volume ventilation strategies in individuals with subacute cervical SCI requiring mechanical ventilation.

Conducted at two inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, the study demonstrated feasibility with high retention and adherence. Exploratory findings showed that patients in the moderate-low tidal volume group had a higher estimated risk of pneumonia and other pulmonary complications. In contrast, those in the moderate-high tidal volume group experienced fewer complications.

However, the moderate-low tidal volume group had more ventilator-free days and demonstrated greater reductions in systemic inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α), suggesting a potential trade-off between inflammation control and pulmonary complications.

In parallel, Korupolu’s research also identified key clinical indicators that predict which patients are more likely to successfully wean off the ventilator early during their acute rehabilitation admission. This strategy holds the potential to better target advanced interventions, such as phrenic nerve pacing, by identifying candidates earlier in the recovery process.

Building on this body of work, Korupolu is currently leading the submission of a large Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grant to expand her research into a multicenter trial. The goal is to definitively determine optimal ventilation strategies and establish evidence-based, standardized respiratory care guidelines for individuals with SCI.

Korupolu’s expertise has also been recognized globally. She was recently invited by UpToDate, an internationally used clinical decision-making platform published by Wolters Kluwer, to co-author and update the chapters on both acute and chronic respiratory management in individuals with spinal cord injury with pulmonologists.

In recognition of her substantial contributions to advancing respiratory outcomes in people with SCI, Korupolu was selected as the 2025 Anthony F. DiMarco, MD Lecturer, awarded by the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals. This prestigious honor is awarded to individuals who have significantly improved the care and outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injury through impactful clinical and research leadership.

“Caring for people with spinal cord injury is more than a profession—it’s my passion and purpose,” Korupolu said. “I’m deeply grateful to be in a place where I can ask meaningful questions, challenge the status quo, and bring together a team committed to improving the lives of our patients. This work gives me hope, and I’m honored to be part of the journey toward better outcomes.”