Assessing how environmental factors affect respiratory health using advanced airway organoids
Official title: Expedited Assessment of Environment-induced Respiratory Ciliopathies Leveraging Motile Apical-out Airway Organoids
Funded at Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-10997586 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how air pollution and harmful chemicals affect breathing problems like asthma and COPD, using tiny lab-grown models of airways to see how well they clear mucus and other particles, which could help us understand these conditions better and improve how we diagnose them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31HL176100-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997586 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals suffering from asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions exacerbated by environmental pollutants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with respiratory conditions not related to environmental factors or those without cilia function issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of airborne pollutants and harmful chemicals on respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). By utilizing bio-engineered airway organoids, the study aims to analyze cilia function, which is crucial for clearing mucus and foreign particles from the airways. The approach combines advanced engineering techniques with computational analysis to provide detailed insights into mucociliary dysfunction, potentially leading to improved diagnostic methods. Patients may benefit from a better understanding of how environmental exposures contribute to their respiratory conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for respiratory diseases linked to environmental factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using organoid models for studying respiratory diseases, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Carnegie-Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhattaram, Dhruv — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Bhattaram, Dhruv
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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.