A new device to study and test treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Official title: PAH-on-a-chip: a novel disease-on-a-device model for studying the pathobiology of and screening drugs for pulmonary arterial hypertension
Funded at Medluidics LLC · NIH-10851877 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a special device that simulates the conditions of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) using human cells, so researchers can better understand the disease and find new treatments that might help patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medluidics LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Elk Grove, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $193,130 |
| NIH project number | 5R43HL169134-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10851877 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, particularly those affected by the disease's unique characteristics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of pulmonary hypertension or those without a diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a microfluidic device that mimics the conditions of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by incorporating human pulmonary arterial cells. The device aims to provide a more accurate model for understanding the disease and testing potential treatments, overcoming the limitations of traditional animal and cellular models. By using this innovative approach, researchers hope to gain insights into the factors contributing to PAH and the sex-disparity observed in its prevalence. Patients may benefit from more effective therapies developed through this advanced model.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of more effective treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
How similar studies have gone: While similar organ-on-a-chip technologies have shown promise in other diseases, this specific application for pulmonary arterial hypertension is novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Medluidics LLC
Elk Grove, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahsan, Fakhrul — Medluidics LLC
- Study coordinator: Ahsan, Fakhrul
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how blood flow and pressure affect lungs in PAH
This grant studies how abnormal blood flow and pressure contribute to pulmonary arterial hypertension and how patient factors shape these effects, with the aim of guiding better therapies.
-
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This project tests a protein called asporin as both a treatment and a biomarker for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to help people with this life-threatening condition.
-
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A research team at the University of Pittsburgh is studying how platelet energy metabolism and fibroblast glutamine use interact in systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension to improve diagnosis and treatment.
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Researchers are studying how inflammation in the lining of blood vessels and a protein called Src kinase contribute to early lung artery remodeling in people with mild PAH.
-
Cardiopulmonary chip model to study right heart disease from high blood pressure in the lungs
A tiny heart-lung chip is being developed to understand why the right side of the heart enlarges in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension and to test targeted treatments.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.