How a cell-signaling switch keeps airway cilia working
Canonical to noncanonical Wnt signaling switch in airway epithelial health and disease
This research aims to fix a cell-signaling switch so airway cilia can regrow and clear mucus better for people with cystic fibrosis, chronic sinusitis, asthma, or COPD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232358 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will study the lining of the airways to learn why tiny hair-like cilia are lost or damaged in chronic airway diseases. They will use patient-derived airway cells and laboratory models to turn specific Wnt signaling pathways on and off, including molecular tools such as gene manipulation. The team will test whether restoring the normal switch from canonical (β-catenin) to noncanonical (PCP) Wnt signaling improves ciliated cell formation and coordinated ciliary movement. Their goal is to identify druggable molecules and strategies that could be developed into treatments to reverse ciliary dysfunction.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with chronic airway conditions that involve ciliary damage, such as cystic fibrosis, chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, or COPD, who might provide airway samples or join related clinical components.
Not a fit: People without airway-cilia problems or whose symptoms are caused by non-ciliary issues are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that restore cilia function, improve mucus clearance, and reduce infections and breathing symptoms in people with chronic airway disease.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have shown that blocking canonical Wnt can improve ciliary function in cultured cells, but repairing the canonical-to-noncanonical switch as a therapy for patients is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vladar, Eszter Katalin — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Vladar, Eszter Katalin
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.