Finding early lung and blood signs of familial pulmonary fibrosis
Clinical Core
This program looks for early lung and blood changes in people who have family members with pulmonary fibrosis so problems can be caught before symptoms start.
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-11193811 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Core A manages the clinical visits and biospecimen collection for a program focused on people with a family history of pulmonary fibrosis, using regular high-resolution CT scans and lung function tests to screen for early changes. The team collects blood and other samples (and sometimes bronchoalveolar lavage or biopsies) and records environmental exposure information. Advanced lab methods like single-cell and spatial transcriptomics plus biomarker testing are used to find molecular signals in the pre-symptomatic period. The work builds on an existing Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis registry and an At‑Risk cohort of hundreds of volunteers to identify targets for preventing disease progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people (including children and adults) who have a close family history of familial pulmonary fibrosis and are willing to undergo imaging, breathing tests, and provide blood or other biospecimens.
Not a fit: People without a family history of pulmonary fibrosis or those who already have advanced, symptomatic PF are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this early-detection focused program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could allow earlier detection and intervention to prevent or slow pulmonary fibrosis before symptoms and permanent lung scarring develop.
How similar studies have performed: Related observational registries and screening efforts have identified at-risk relatives, but applying single-cell and spatial genomic methods to pre-symptomatic human samples is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salisbury, Margaret Louise — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Salisbury, Margaret Louise
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.