Aspergillus fumigatus and lung scarring
Aspergillus fumigatus infection and fibrosis
This project looks at how lung scar-forming cells respond to Aspergillus fumigatus to help people, especially those who are immunosuppressed or in the ICU, who develop dangerous fungal pneumonia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169952 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use specially engineered mouse models to track how lung fibroblasts activate and calm down after exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus. They will measure signals these cells release during infection and how those signals affect inflammation and tissue scarring. Experiments will compare normal immune systems with weakened ones that resemble ICU or immunosuppressed patients. The team aims to identify steps in this process that could later be targeted to reduce lung injury from fungal infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who develop invasive Aspergillus fumigatus lung infections—particularly patients who are immunosuppressed or critically ill in the ICU—are most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without fungal lung infections or with unrelated lung conditions (for example, purely bacterial pneumonia or chronic non-Aspergillus diseases) are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or reduce lung inflammation and scarring from invasive Aspergillus infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies suggest fibroblasts can influence immune responses, but applying this specifically to Aspergillus-driven lung damage and fibrosis is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Askew, David S — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Askew, David S
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 below.