How cell adhesion signals affect lung scarring and healing
Official title: Adhesome signaling in lung injury and repair
Funded at Birmingham VA Medical Center · NIH-11118697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether restoring a protein called TTP can reduce the scarring process that happens in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Birmingham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006354-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who can donate lung tissue or biospecimens or who receive care at the Birmingham VA Medical Center for potential enrollment in specimen-collection efforts.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking an immediate treatment benefit or those without IPF are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
If you have IPF, researchers will examine lung cells and tissue from people with the disease and use lab models to see how a protein called tristetraprolin (TTP) controls the signals between cells and the surrounding matrix that drive scarring. They will study how impaired TTP leads to excess extracellular matrix (ECM) and myofibroblast changes that make fibrosis worse. The team will test whether increasing TTP activity can lower ECM production and reduce the cell behaviors that create fibrotic lesions. Results will guide whether targeting TTP-related pathways might be a useful route for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to limit lung scarring in IPF by restoring or mimicking TTP function.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory data (including the team's preliminary findings) suggest that restoring TTP can reduce ECM and myofibroblast changes, but translating this into patient treatments remains novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Birmingham VA Medical Center
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ding, Qiang — Birmingham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ding, Qiang
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cardiovascular changes after AV fistula creation and how autophagy affects it
A VA-led project looks at how blood vessel remodeling after AV fistula surgery may be helped by understanding and targeting autophagy.
-
Targeting spinal cord inflammation with a new HuR inhibitor to help SCI patients
A new treatment approach uses a small molecule to block a brain-spinal inflammation regulator (HuR) that drives harmful inflammation after spinal cord injury, aiming to lessen damage and pain for people with SCI.
-
Genetics of Osteoarthritis and Recovery After Joint Replacement
A study looking at how genes affect osteoarthritis and recovery after hip or knee replacement to help tailor rehabilitation for veterans.
-
Home-based walking program for veterans with PAD using telehealth
A telehealth-based walking program is being tested to help veterans with peripheral artery disease improve activity and health at home.
-
Allopurinol to improve heart relaxation in Black adults with resistant high blood pressure
Giving allopurinol to Black adults with resistant high blood pressure to help the heart relax and work better.
-
Employment support for veterans with opioid use disorder
This project uses a personalized job‑support program called Individual Placement and Support to help veterans with opioid use disorder find and keep work while they receive treatment.
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.