How an immune signal affects lung healing after severe injury
Modulation of Acute Lung Injury by Type I Interferon Signaling
Researchers are looking at whether a common antiviral signal called type I interferon slows the regrowth of the lung cells that repair damage after acute lung injury or ARDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252553 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view, the team uses powerful genetic screens and lab-grown human lung cells to find the specific molecules that make interferon stop repair. They grew human alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells from stem cells and used CRISPR techniques to see which genes control cell proliferation after injury. The researchers will test these molecular links in additional lab and preclinical models to see if blocking the pathway lets AT2 cells regrow the air sacs. Their plan is to connect those lab findings to lung damage seen in infections like COVID-19 and other causes of ARDS.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have recently had acute lung injury or ARDS — including cases related to severe respiratory infections such as COVID-19 — would be the most likely candidates for future therapies based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients with chronic lung disorders that do not involve damaged alveolar cells, or those far removed from an acute injury event, are less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that help lungs regenerate faster and reduce the severity or lasting damage from ARDS.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab and animal studies have suggested interferon can worsen lung pathology and limit epithelial repair, so this work builds on earlier signals but uses novel CRISPR and human cell approaches to pinpoint mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Emmer, Brian T — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Emmer, Brian T
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.