Early disease changes in familial pulmonary fibrosis
Project 1: Mechanisms of Early Disease Progression in FPF
This project looks for early immune and genetic signs of pulmonary fibrosis in people who have a family history of the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193817 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a group of people who have a close relative with familial pulmonary fibrosis, even if you currently have no symptoms. The study uses high-resolution CT scans to look for small early lung changes and collects blood samples to study immune cells with single-cell RNA sequencing. Researchers compare people with and without early imaging changes to find immune and genetic signals linked to progression. Regular follow-up visits track whether early changes advance and help the team develop blood markers for earlier detection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have a first-degree relative with familial pulmonary fibrosis and are willing to undergo CT imaging and blood sampling are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a family history of pulmonary fibrosis or those with advanced, symptomatic disease are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could enable earlier detection of pulmonary fibrosis and identify blood markers that guide monitoring or future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has suggested blood immune signatures relate to fibrosis, but applying single-cell RNA sequencing to asymptomatic, at-risk relatives is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blackwell, Timothy S. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Blackwell, Timothy S.
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.