Cell stress in the lung that may cause long-term transplant failure
Official title: Pathological activation of integrated stress response as a driver of Chronic allograft dysfunction after lung transplant
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11252538 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at whether a prolonged cellular 'stress response' in the lung after transplant leads to scarring and long-term graft failure in people who have had lung transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $782,979 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL176632-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252538 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are recent or past lung transplant recipients who can provide clinical follow-up and agree to airway sampling such as bronchoscopy/bronchoalveolar lavage.
✕Less likely to help
People without a lung transplant or those who cannot undergo airway sampling or follow-up visits are unlikely to benefit directly from participation in this project.
What this research studies
If you have had a lung transplant, researchers will collect airway samples and clinical data early after transplant and during follow-up to search for signs of a persistent cellular stress response. They will link early problems after surgery (primary graft dysfunction) with later scarring and chronic lung allograft dysfunction by measuring stress-related signals in airway and alveolar cells. Laboratory studies will use those human-derived samples alongside experimental models to test whether blocking the integrated stress response helps airway cells recover and prevents scarring. The work aims to connect what is seen in patients with molecular targets that could be used in future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat chronic lung transplant failure and improve long-term survival and quality of life for transplant recipients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory and animal studies have linked immune cells and the integrated stress response to poor repair, but translating this link to human lung transplant outcomes is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kurihara, Chitaru — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Kurihara, Chitaru
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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Vaccination responses in lung transplant patients
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The Post-Lung Transplant Aging in Immune Cells in Donor Lungs
This grant explores how aging donor lungs affect lung transplant outcomes by studying immune cells called alveolar macrophages.
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Predictors of Lung Transplant Success and Costs
This study looks at what pre-transplant patient factors and biology predict a smooth recovery and lower costs after lung transplant.
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.