How certain lung macrophage cells help repair the lung after inflammation
Official title: Reparative functions of human airspace macrophage subsets
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11371172 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies specific immune cells in the lungs to understand how they clear dead cells and help repair tissue after lung inflammation, with a focus on adults who develop acute respiratory distress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Jewish Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $590,895 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL168278-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371172 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) who might donate airway-derived cells or be involved in related observational studies connected to lung inflammation research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy volunteers or patients who cannot donate airway cells or participate in inflammatory exposure studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study airspace macrophages from healthy adults exposed to a controlled inflammatory trigger to identify distinct macrophage subsets. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing to map the genes active in each subset and relate these profiles to their roles in clearing dead cells and promoting repair. The goal is to determine which macrophage types drive healing and what molecular signals control their functions during recovery from lung inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these macrophage subsets could lead to new ways to promote lung repair after serious inflammatory injuries like ARDS.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work shows distinct macrophage subsets emerge after lung inflammation and are linked to repair programs, suggesting a promising but evolving approach.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mould, Kara J — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Mould, Kara J
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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.