Glycan clues to a stronger mucus barrier against respiratory viruses
Official title: Glycan-Mediated Impacts on the Mucus Barrier Towards Respiratory Viruses
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11398234 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study from the University of Maryland aims to understand how the mucus lining in the lungs blocks or allows respiratory viruses to pass through, with the goal of making this barrier more effective for people with airway diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $696,922 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL182101-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398234 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with airway diseases who are at risk of respiratory infections may benefit from improved mucus barrier defenses in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without airway disease may not directly benefit from changes in mucus barrier properties studied here.
What this research studies
This project will look at the mucus barrier in the lungs and how its structure and mucus sugars affect whether viruses can be trapped or pass through. Researchers will examine how mucin glycans influence mucus properties and the body’s clearance of mucus, and how these factors interact with viruses like influenza and other respiratory pathogens. Using lab experiments that model human airway mucus, they will test how different mucins and glycans change virus trapping and movement. The findings could inform new ways to strengthen the airway defense and reduce infection risk for patients with airway diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better strategies to protect people with airway diseases from respiratory infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that mucus architecture and mucin components influence viral trapping, with ongoing exploration in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scull, Margaret Adele — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Scull, Margaret Adele
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.