Finding early lung scarring with a special camera
Microscopic EB-OCT imaging to predict progression in interstitial lung abnormalities
This project uses a new camera to find early signs of lung scarring in people with certain lung changes, aiming to help doctors start treatment sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11099906 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is a serious lung condition where scar tissue builds up, and current treatments work best when started early. Doctors currently use CT scans to look for early signs called interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA), but CT scans can't tell which ILAs will get worse. Traditional biopsies are risky, so our team is using a special camera called EB-OCT, which is much more detailed than a CT scan and safer than a biopsy. This camera helps us see tiny changes in the lung that might predict if someone's ILA will progress to PPF.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be individuals who have been identified with interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) on a CT scan but do not yet have severe symptoms.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have interstitial lung abnormalities or those with very advanced, symptomatic lung fibrosis may not directly benefit from this early detection method.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow doctors to identify people at high risk for progressive lung scarring much earlier, enabling timely treatment to slow or prevent disease progression.
How similar studies have performed: Our team has previously developed and validated the EB-OCT method, showing it can safely and accurately detect early lung fibrosis compared to surgical biopsy.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hariri, Lida P — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hariri, Lida 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.