How acid reflux might harm lung transplants
Official title: Physiologic and molecular mechanisms linking gastroesophageal reflux with chronic lung allograft dysfunction
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11193903 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores whether stomach acid or tiny amounts of stomach contents that reach the lungs cause early and long-term problems in people who have had lung transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $432,186 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL169188-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193903 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who have received a lung transplant and may have symptoms or testing suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux or suspected microaspiration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a history of lung transplant or those with unrelated lung conditions would not benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you've had a lung transplant, this project will look at whether acid reflux and tiny amounts of stomach contents getting into the lungs hurt your new lung. Researchers will measure how the esophagus works, test airway samples for signs of microaspiration, and check for immune changes linked to injury. They will also use laboratory models to trace the molecular steps from aspiration to early graft injury and later scarring. The aim is to identify which patients are most at risk and suggest ways to prevent or slow chronic lung transplant failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify patients at high risk for transplant damage from reflux and suggest treatments to prevent or slow chronic lung graft failure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous clinical efforts to control reflux after transplant (like fundoplication or proton pump inhibitors) have had mixed results, so parts of this work build on prior findings while other parts are novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perlman, Harris R — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Perlman, Harris R
Related research
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Omega Partial Fundoplication: a new implant to treat GERD
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Understanding how reflux harms lung transplants and what to do about it
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This study is looking at how stomach acid can affect lung transplant patients and cause problems with their new lungs, hoping to find better ways to help these patients feel better and improve their treatment options.
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Creating a mobile app to help patients with acid reflux ask better questions about their health
This study is creating a friendly mobile app called 'Esophagus-Qs' to help people with GERD ask the right questions during doctor visits, so they can feel more confident and involved in managing their health.
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POEM vs Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication for achalasia
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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.