Fetal tracheal aspirates to guide CDH therapies and timing for lung growth
Official title: Fetal tracheal aspirates in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) can select therapeutics and predict their optimal timing and dosing to improve differentiation of hypoplastic lungs
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11374043 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is studying fetal tracheal samples from babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia to figure out which treatments and timing could help their lungs grow better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $466,740 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD119480-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374043 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Fetal CDH cases from which tracheal aspirates can be obtained and cultured.
✕Less likely to help
May not benefit if tracheal aspirates cannot be collected or if differentiation remains unresponsive.
What this research studies
This project uses tracheal aspirate cells from fetuses with CDH to create 3D culture models and study how these cells differentiate. The team aims to identify when inflammatory signals appear and how they affect lung development, then test steroids and NFkB inhibitors to see if differentiation can be improved. By analyzing patient-derived cells, they hope to map which therapies could be most effective and when to start them. The study will use early-development samples to build a framework for timing and dosing in future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide personalized treatment timing to improve lung development in CDH babies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that inflammatory signaling can affect differentiation in CDH-derived cells, with steroids and NFkB inhibitors altering the signature.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rowbotham, Samuel Philip — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rowbotham, Samuel Philip
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Inhaled Nitric Oxide for Babies with CDH
A multi-center study tests whether stopping routine use of inhaled nitric oxide in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia is safe and effective so care can be simpler and potentially better.
-
Integrating growth models and preclinical data to improve CDH patch repair
A study to help babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia by improving how surgical patches interact with growing tissues.
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Extracellular vesicles to boost fetal lung vessels in babies with diaphragmatic hernia
Aims to use tiny particles from stem cells to help growing lungs in babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia before birth.
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Inhaled Nitric Oxide for CDH: A pragmatic, multi-center trial to guide care for newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia
This trial tests whether stopping routine inhaled nitric oxide use after birth helps seriously ill newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
-
Finding genes that cause congenital diaphragmatic hernia
This project uses fast CRISPR gene-editing in mice to find which genetic changes are responsible for congenital diaphragmatic hernia in babies.
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Understanding lung development in babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia
This work aims to uncover why the lungs of babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia do not develop properly.
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.