Chronic Lung Transplant Fibrosis: LKB1 in Exosomes and Lung Scarring
Official title: Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction: Role for Tumor Suppressor LKB1 in Exosomes
Funded at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center · NIH-11374423 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how tiny particles called exosomes carrying a tumor suppressor protein (LKB1) might influence scarring and long-term failure after lung transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $421,731 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL156891-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374423 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Lung transplant recipients, especially those with or at risk of BOS/CLAD, and related biopsy or airway samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to lung transplant care or with non-lung conditions are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
After a lung transplant, many patients develop chronic rejection characterized by scarring and breathing problems. This study looks at exosomes and the LKB1 protein to understand how they may drive epithelial changes and fibrosis in the transplanted lung. Researchers will use patient samples and lab cell models to see how reduced LKB1 affects exosome release and signals like PDGFβR that promote fibrosis. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new treatments to prevent chronic lung allograft dysfunction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to prevent or slow lung transplant rejection and improve long-term breathability and survival.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked LKB1 and exosome signaling to fibrosis; this study builds on those findings in human lung transplant samples.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Phoenix, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohanakumar, Thalachallour — St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mohanakumar, Thalachallour
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.