Cell therapy that calms lung inflammation and supports lung repair
Cell Based Immunomodulation to Suppress Lung Inflammation and Promote Repair
This project develops a cell-based therapy that sits in the lungs and releases anti-inflammatory proteins to help people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) recover and avoid scarring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171686 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers engineered retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to produce anti-inflammatory proteins IL-1Ra and IL-10 and encapsulated them in alginate-based capsules to protect the cells and keep their effects local to the lung. The capsules act as small, controllable factories that release cytokines directly in the injured lung while minimizing absorption into the rest of the body. This local delivery aims to reduce the harmful inflammation that drives death and later lung scarring in ARDS without causing broad immunosuppression. The approach has improved inflammation and outcomes in animal models and is being advanced toward clinical translation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with acute ARDS—especially those showing a hyperinflammatory form of ARDS or at high risk for post-ARDS lung scarring—would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without inflammatory-driven ARDS, those with certain chronic lung diseases where this mechanism is not relevant, or patients unable to undergo a delivery procedure may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower ARDS mortality and reduce long-term lung fibrosis and respiratory failure in survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Related local cytokine and encapsulated-cell therapies have shown benefit in animal studies, but this exact engineered RPE/alginate capsule approach is novel and has not yet been proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghanta, Ravi K — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Ghanta, Ravi K
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.