How GM‑CSF and lung macrophages affect Mycobacterium abscessus lung infections
Official title: GM-CSF, macrophages, and susceptibility to Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary infection
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11331242 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether the immune signal GM‑CSF and different lung immune cells help protect people with chronic airway diseases from Mycobacterium abscessus lung infections.
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 | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $608,223 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167956-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11331242 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic airway diseases (for example bronchiectasis, COPD, or cystic fibrosis) who have or are at risk for pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, especially Mycobacterium abscessus.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic lung disease, those with unrelated infections such as tuberculosis, or individuals seeking immediate changes to their clinical treatment are unlikely to directly benefit from this lab‑focused research.
What this research studies
This project uses laboratory and animal experiments together with human case data to understand how the immune signal GM‑CSF and different types of lung macrophages respond to Mycobacterium abscessus. The team compares resident alveolar macrophages to recruited monocyte‑derived macrophages and uses mice that lack GM‑CSF to see how loss of this signal changes infection risk. They also study how GM‑CSF activates macrophages to kill the bacteria in cell‑based tests and integrate findings from human reports. The goal is to pinpoint immune steps that could be targeted to boost lung defenses in people with chronic airway disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to strengthen lung immunity or develop treatments that prevent or better control Mycobacterium abscessus infections in people with chronic airway diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous human case reports and mouse studies suggest GM‑CSF is important for controlling NTM and that loss of GM‑CSF increases susceptibility, but applying these findings to human therapies remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hisert, Katherine B — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Hisert, Katherine B
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Predictive models for BeS and CBD in exposed workers
Aimed at people exposed to beryllium, this project will build models to identify who is at risk for beryllium sensitization and Chronic Beryllium Disease using lung samples and data.
-
Understanding how early skin biology affects the development of allergies in children
A study with infants and young children aims to understand why some kids with eczema (atopic dermatitis) go on to develop food allergies and asthma, by looking at skin biology and immune patterns still early in life.
-
Rare airway cells and how they affect lung infections after a viral illness
This NIH grant looks at a rare airway cell type called M cells to see how they influence secondary bacterial infections after a viral lung illness.
-
Obinutuzumab for CTD-Related Interstitial Lung Disease in adults
This project tests whether the anti-B cell therapy obinutuzumab can help adults with connective tissue disease–related ILD who are on mycophenolate therapy.
-
Effects of Temperature Fluctuation on the Skin Barrier (K08)
A clinician-scientist is being mentored over 5 years to understand how changes in temperature affect the skin barrier and the development of allergies in children.
-
Precision tapering of dupilumab in asthma for safer, cost-saving interval extension
We’re testing if adults with well-controlled asthma on dupilumab can safely extend the time between injections to reduce costs and burden.
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.