Fibrin buildup during lung infections
Fibrin in the Infected Lung
Researchers are testing whether lowering fibrin (a blood‑clot protein) in the lungs can reduce inflammation and tissue damage in people with certain kinds of pneumonia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300180 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have pneumonia, researchers want to understand why some people have lots of fibrin (a clotting protein) in their airspaces while others do not. They will compare human lung samples and use mouse models to see if fibrin and neutrophils create a harmful feedback loop that increases necrosis and lung injury. In mice they will use genetic and drug approaches to raise or lower fibrin by targeting tissue factor, thrombin, or plasmin and then measure inflammation and lung damage. The goal is to identify which pneumonia types might benefit from treatments that limit fibrin accumulation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with pneumonia—especially severe cases with lots of lung inflammation, necrosis, or suspected fibrin accumulation—would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People whose pneumonia shows little or no fibrin in the airspaces (the low‑fibrin type) may not benefit from fibrin‑targeting approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that target clotting pathways to reduce lung inflammation and tissue damage in people with high‑fibrin pneumonia.
How similar studies have performed: Pathology and animal studies have previously linked fibrin to lung inflammation, but using fibrin‑targeting therapies for specific pneumonia subtypes is largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mizgerd, Joseph P — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Mizgerd, Joseph P
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.