Estrogen and neutrophil function in lung disease among adults with CF and bronchiectasis
Official title: Estrogen-mediated effects on neutrophil function and airway inflammatory response
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11419822 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests how estrogen may change neutrophil behavior and lung inflammation in adults with cystic fibrosis or non-CF bronchiectasis to explain why women often have worse outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $554,612 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175722-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419822 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cystic fibrosis or non-CF bronchiectasis, particularly females, who can provide lung-related samples or participate in approved procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct improvement in their symptoms during the study.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how estrogen affects neutrophil actions and inflammatory responses in the lungs of adults with CF or non-CF bronchiectasis. They will examine neutrophil traps and inflammatory markers in patient samples and model systems, aiming to connect hormonal status with disease severity. The study builds on prior findings that estrogen levels correlate with worse lung inflammation and may influence bacterial infections like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. By clarifying this mechanism, the work could point to gender-specific strategies to reduce flares and improve lung health. Participation could involve analysis of existing patient samples and related non-clinical experiments within a safe, approved research framework.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new approaches to reduce lung inflammation and exacerbations in women with CF or bronchiectasis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests estrogen can modulate lung inflammation, supporting the potential for meaningful findings, but outcomes in humans remain to be demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jain, Raksha — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Jain, Raksha
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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.