Airborne pollution may worsen blood vessel changes in lung high blood pressure
Official title: Airborne particulates exacerbate vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11367406 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests how air particles from pollution affect lung blood vessels in people with pulmonary hypertension, aiming to identify factors that worsen the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $149,857 |
| NIH project number | 5K08ES037420-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367406 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with pulmonary hypertension or those at risk could potentially benefit from future translational advances arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without pulmonary hypertension or related vascular lung conditions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Pulmonary hypertension is a serious lung disease with limited treatments. This research looks at how inhaled air particulates influence blood vessel remodeling in the lungs, focusing on molecular pathways linked to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. The work builds on preliminary findings showing a link between ambient PM2.5 exposure, AHR activation, and inflammatory changes in human lung cells and animal models. By studying human cells and animal tissue, the project seeks to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new approaches to slow or alter disease progression for patients with pulmonary hypertension.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest similar pathways are involved, but direct translation to treatments requires further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelly, Neil Jeremiah — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kelly, Neil Jeremiah
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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.