How immune signals shape lung growth in Down syndrome
Official title: Type I IFN signaling during lung development in Down Syndrome
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11124096 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether type I interferon immune signals change lung development before birth in babies with Down syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Torrance, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $558,694 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL155104-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124096 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be families willing to donate prenatal or postnatal lung tissue samples, or people with Down syndrome interested in future clinical studies at the Torrance, CA site.
✕Less likely to help
People without Down syndrome or those seeking immediate treatments are unlikely to benefit directly because this is early-stage mechanistic research focused on development.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare fetal and early-life lung tissue from babies with and without Down syndrome, using 3D imaging and molecular tests to measure interferon-responsive genes and tissue structure. They will examine airway branching, blood vessels, lymphatics, and the extracellular matrix to see how altered interferon signaling might change cell growth, death, and tissue formation. Lab-based models will be used to test whether changing type I interferon activity can reproduce or reverse these lung changes, aiming to pinpoint mechanisms that begin prenatally.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or treat lung and airway problems in people with Down syndrome by targeting interferon-related pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown increased interferon signaling in Down syndrome, but applying this specifically to prenatal lung development is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
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Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Danopoulos, Soula Athanasia — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Danopoulos, Soula Athanasia
Related research
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Silencing an Extra Chromosome to Help Down Syndrome and Related Conditions
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Infant Down Syndrome Brain and Behavior Study
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DS-ARC: Smartphone-based cognitive check for people with Down syndrome at risk for Alzheimer’s
A smartphone-based cognitive test is being developed and tested for people with Down syndrome who may develop Alzheimer’s disease, to track changes quietly in daily life.
-
Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
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.