How cell adhesion signals affect lung scarring and healing
Adhesome signaling in lung injury and repair
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 ID | NIH-11118697 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment benefit or those without IPF are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
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 performed: 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, United States
- Birmingham VA Medical Center — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ding, Qiang — Birmingham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ding, Qiang
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.