Determinants of Early Lung Fibrosis Progression
Official title: Determinants of Development and Progression of Early Lung Fibrosis
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11448297 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why early lung scarring happens and which biomarkers predict it, aiming to help people at risk catch and prevent progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 24, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,357,964 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL182805-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448297 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at elevated risk of developing lung fibrosis, including first-degree relatives of affected individuals and people with rheumatoid arthritis without known lung fibrosis.
✕Less likely to help
People without interest in longitudinal health monitoring or who do not carry the studied risk profiles may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project will look for genetic, molecular, and environmental clues that signal which people with early fibrotic lung changes are most likely to worsen. It studies first-degree relatives of people with familial pulmonary fibrosis and other high-risk groups to derive and then test biomarkers that could predict progression to irreversible lung disease. By following these participants over time, the study seeks to build a clinically useful way to identify who might benefit from early interventions in real-world settings. The ultimate goal is to enable secondary prevention strategies to slow or halt fibrosis before significant lung damage occurs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to earlier and more targeted interventions to prevent worsening lung fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: Past work has identified promising biomarkers in fibrotic lung diseases, but this study aims to validate and generalize these markers across multiple populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwartz, David Albert — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Schwartz, David Albert
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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.