A tissue slice model to test treatments for Pneumocystis pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS
Official title: A Translational Precision-Cut Lung Slice Model for Host-Response and Therapeutic Testing in Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11469744 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are creating a lung-slice model to study Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and test potential treatments using tissue from infected, immunosuppressed mice to better predict what might help people with HIV/AIDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $242,100 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI203622-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11469744 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with HIV/AIDS who are at risk for or have Pneumocystis pneumonia, or clinicians and researchers seeking new therapies for PJP.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV/AIDS or Pneumocystis pneumonia may not directly benefit from this ex vivo model.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a precision-cut lung slice system that preserves the lung environment during Pneumocystis infection, enabling simultaneous study of how the immune system responds and how drugs may reduce the fungal load. The work is designed to standardize and validate this ex vivo model so anti-Pneumocystis and anti-inflammatory drugs can be screened with less material and fewer animal studies. By focusing on a human-relevant disease context (PJP in HIV/AIDS) and using a translational model, the project aims to accelerate identification of promising therapies for patients with AIDS-related Pneumocystis pneumonia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this model could speed up the discovery of effective treatments for Pneumocystis pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS and reduce reliance on animal testing.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows ex vivo lung tissue systems can reflect infection dynamics and drug responses, with early data suggesting feasibility and potential for screening.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Limper, Andrew H — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Limper, Andrew H
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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.