Drugs that activate RXR and PPARγ to reduce virus-related lung injury
Official title: RXR/PPARg heterodimer agonists for treating virus-induced acute lung injury
Funded at Sigmovir Biosystems, INC. · NIH-11158766 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether activating two cellular receptors (RXR and PPARγ) can push immune cells toward healing and reduce lung damage after viral infections like flu or RSV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sigmovir Biosystems, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rockville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $72,930 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AI186104-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158766 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with severe viral pneumonia (for example from influenza or RSV) or those at high risk for virus-induced acute lung injury would be the likely candidates for related clinical trials in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose lung injury is caused by non-viral factors (such as trauma, chemical exposure, or aspiration) or who cannot take drugs targeting nuclear receptors may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You should know this work looks at how immune cells called macrophages respond after viral lung infections and whether shifting them to a healing state reduces damage. The team uses mouse models of RSV and influenza, molecular studies of gene activation, and adoptive transfer of healthy macrophages to study effects of RXR/PPARγ-activating drugs. The focus is on preventing the excessive inflammatory response that leads to acute lung injury and ARDS. These experiments are preclinical lab work rather than a current treatment trial for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to drugs that lower harmful lung inflammation and reduce the risk of severe complications like ARDS after viral infections.
How similar studies have gone: PPARγ-activating compounds have shown anti-inflammatory effects in animal studies and some early human work, but targeting the RXR/PPARγ heterodimer specifically for virus-induced lung injury is a relatively new strategy with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
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Sigmovir Biosystems, INC.
Rockville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blanco, Jorge C — Sigmovir Biosystems, INC.
- Study coordinator: Blanco, Jorge C
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.