Animal models for severe lung failure (ARDS) and ventilator-related lung damage

Pre-Clinical Large and Small Animal Models of ARDS/VILI

['FUNDING_P01'] · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · NIH-11193828

Using rat and pig models to find ways to protect and repair lungs for people with severe breathing failure (ARDS) and to reduce harm from mechanical ventilation.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_P01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11193828 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This project builds and uses well-controlled rat and pig models of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI) to study how the blood vessel lining in the lung (endothelial cells) and their internal skeleton contribute to damage. Researchers will apply advanced techniques to characterize barrier breakdown, test pharmacological agonists, antagonists, and monoclonal antibodies, and collect standardized physiological and tissue data across experiments. The core maintains and operates animal facilities, provides expertise and training to collaborating projects, and manages data and samples to improve reproducibility. The goal is to turn findings from these animal studies into candidate therapies that could be tested in people with ARDS.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or those at high risk of ventilator-induced lung injury are the kinds of patients who could benefit from future clinical trials based on this work.

Not a fit: Because this is preclinical animal research, patients will not receive direct treatments from the project right now and those with non-respiratory conditions are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify treatments that protect the lung lining and lead to new therapies that lower death and complications from ARDS and ventilator-induced injury.

How similar studies have performed: Related animal-model research has produced useful biological insights and candidate drugs, but many therapies that worked in animals have not yet translated into proven human ARDS treatments.

Where this research is happening

GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Acute Lung Injury, Acute Pulmonary Injury, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.