How immune cells and other cells help lungs heal after injury
Lung repair mechanisms mediated by the immune-fibroblast interface
This research explores how special cells in your lungs, called fibroblasts and immune cells, talk to each other to help your lungs heal after an injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11123236 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Your lungs are constantly exposed to things like allergens and infections, and when damage occurs, your body's immune system and wound-healing cells, called fibroblasts, spring into action. This project aims to discover how these fibroblasts and immune cells signal each other to ensure your lung heals properly. Researchers are also looking at how damaged cells lining the lung might keep inflammation going. The goal is to understand these cell interactions using advanced models, including organoids, to find new ways to support lung repair.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational laboratory research is not directly recruiting patients at this stage, but future clinical applications may benefit individuals with various lung injuries or chronic lung diseases.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment options for their lung conditions may not find direct benefit from this early-stage research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for various lung diseases by improving our understanding of how lungs recover from damage.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific mechanisms of immune-fibroblast communication in lung repair are still being uncovered, previous research has highlighted the critical roles of these cell types in healing processes.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zepp, Jarod — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Zepp, Jarod
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.