CMKLR1-targeted imaging to map lung inflammation in ALI and fibrotic lung diseases
Official title: CMKLR1-Targeted Molecular Imaging of Inflammation as a Precision Medicine Tool in Acute Lung Injury and Fibrotic Lung Diseases
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11399810 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to test a new PET imaging tool that targets CMKLR1 to visualize lung inflammation and help predict and monitor disease progression in patients with acute lung injury and fibrotic lung diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $566,113 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166953-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399810 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with acute lung injury or fibrotic lung diseases, including ARDS and related conditions, and healthy controls for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without inflammatory or fibrotic lung disease or those unable to undergo PET imaging may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project will explore a CMKLR1-targeted imaging agent to noninvasively measure lung inflammation and potentially forecast how the disease will progress. It builds on preliminary mouse data to translate imaging findings toward human disease, including COVID-19-related lung injury and various fibrotic conditions. Researchers will assess how well this tracer reflects inflammatory activity and whether it can track responses to anti-inflammatory or anti-fibrotic therapies. The work involves collaboration between imaging specialists, lung disease clinicians, and translational scientists to bridge animal data to clinical relevance. Overall, the goal is to move toward a precision medicine approach where imaging guides treatment decisions for patients with inflammatory and fibrotic lung conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this imaging approach could help doctors tailor treatments and monitor response in patients with ALI and fibrotic lung diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical imaging studies showed increased CMKLR1 tracer uptake in lung inflammation models, supporting translational potential; human data are being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tavakoli, Sina — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Tavakoli, Sina
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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.