How airway lining cells fight and recover from respiratory viruses
Balancing epithelial cell resistance and resilience to respiratory viral infections
This project compares airway cells' antiviral defenses and recovery processes in people with respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 and influenza.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251251 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect nasal swabs and other airway samples from people with respiratory viral infections and use single-cell RNA sequencing to see which genes are active in individual airway cells. They will examine baseline features—like interferon antiviral signaling and cellular cholesterol-making pathways—that might make infections worse or help tissues recover. The team will compare samples from people with mild versus severe illness and from groups at higher risk, such as individuals with overweight or obesity, to find patterns linked to outcomes. The aim is to identify cell-level targets for treatments that protect the airway while avoiding long-term harm.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with recent or active respiratory viral infections (including COVID-19 or influenza) or volunteers willing to provide nasal swabs and health information.
Not a fit: People needing immediate clinical care for severe illness or those with non-viral lung diseases are unlikely to receive direct health benefits from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to treatments that strengthen protective airway cell responses or limit harmful ones to prevent severe illness and long-term respiratory damage.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell analyses of nasal and airway samples have identified interferon responses and cell-state changes in COVID-19 and influenza, though using these data to separate causal baseline risks from resilience mechanisms is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ordovas-Montanes, Jose Manuel — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ordovas-Montanes, Jose Manuel
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.