How cGAS-STING affects lung healing and scarring
Elucidating the Role of cGAS-STING in Lung Tissue Repair and Remodeling
This project looks at whether the cGAS-STING immune pathway drives lung inflammation and scarring in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310764 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a cellular DNA-sensing pathway (cGAS-STING) that can trigger inflammation and abnormal repair in the lung. Using well-established mouse models of lung injury and lung tissue from people with fibrosis, they compare animals lacking cGAS or related proteins to normal animals and measure inflammation, lung collagen, and breathing mechanics. They also examine how STING interacts with structural proteins like vimentin that may control the response to injury. The team aims to connect the mouse findings to human disease signals so this pathway could become a target for new therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or other progressive fibrotic interstitial lung diseases would be the most likely candidates for related future trials or tissue-donation efforts.
Not a fit: Patients whose breathing problems are due to infections, heart failure, or non-fibrotic lung conditions are unlikely to benefit from a therapy aimed at this specific fibrosis pathway.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to a new treatment target to reduce inflammation and slow or prevent scarring in pulmonary fibrosis.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical animal studies show reduced lung fibrosis when cGAS or STING signaling is blocked, but therapies targeting this pathway have not yet been proven effective in people.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ridge, Karen M — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Ridge, Karen M
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.