Biased beta-2 receptor boosters to improve airway muscle function
Official title: Strategies for biasing and augmenting b2-adrenoceptor signaling and function in ASM
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11417196 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A NIH grant aims to find small molecules that enhance beneficial beta-2 receptor signals in airway smooth muscle to help manage asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $332,180 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL180318-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417196 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with asthma or airway hyper-responsiveness who may benefit from improved beta-2 receptor–mediated relaxation therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without asthma or airway hyper-responsiveness may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project explores creating and testing new biased beta-2 adrenergic receptor ligands that preferentially activate the helpful Gs/cAMP/PKA pathway in human airway smooth muscle cells. Researchers will use specialized models and a core facility to understand how these ligands change receptor behavior and signaling, with an eye toward reducing asthma symptoms. The work also plans to combine these ligands with ABCC1 inhibitors to further boost the desired signaling and potentially improve airway relaxation. Findings could lead to new targeted therapies that minimize problematic signaling while maximizing disease control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to smarter asthma therapies that more effectively relax airway muscles with fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that biased receptor ligands can selectively activate beneficial signaling pathways in airway cells, suggesting potential for translation.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Penn, Raymond B. — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Penn, Raymond B.
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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.