Genetic testing and specialist care for rare causes of chronic lung, sinus, and ear infections
Official title: Use of Tiered Genetic Sequencing and Specialty Referral for Identifying and Managing Rare Genetic Causes of Chronic Suppurative Respiratory Disease
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11472359 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers stepwise genetic testing and specialty referrals to find rare inherited causes of recurring lung, sinus, and ear infections in children and adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $27,259 |
| NIH project number | 3U01HL172658-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11472359 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adults with chronic or recurrent ear, sinus, or lower respiratory infections, bronchiectasis, or unexplained severe infections without a confirmed genetic diagnosis.
✕Less likely to help
People whose infections are clearly caused by non-genetic factors, who already have a definitive diagnosis, or who cannot provide consent or samples are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
If you or your child have repeated ear infections, sinus infections, bronchitis, or bronchiectasis, clinicians will use a stepwise approach that starts with targeted genetic tests and moves to whole genome sequencing when needed. The team combines ciliary disease experts and immune disease specialists to review results and recommend tailored follow-up and treatments. They will collect clinical information and biological samples as needed to look for inborn errors of immunity or disorders of mucociliary clearance. The goal is to connect people with the right diagnosis and specialty care to reduce infections and protect lung function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Earlier and more precise genetic diagnoses could lead to personalized management that prevents recurring infections and limits long-term lung damage.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work by the Genetic Disorders of Mucociliary Clearance Consortium and related immune programs has successfully identified many disease genes and improved diagnoses, and this project builds on those proven approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olivier, Kenneth N. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Olivier, Kenneth N.
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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.