How lung air sacs form and regrow after injury
Transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms of alveologenesis and re-alveologenesis
Researchers are mapping the cellular and genetic switches that build and repair the tiny air sacs in the lung to help people with conditions like COVID-19, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and acute lung injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309174 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project reads the activity and epigenetic marks of individual lung cells using cutting-edge single-cell technology to see how air sacs (alveoli) develop and recover after injury. The team will follow epithelial, endothelial, and mesenchymal cell lineages to learn which cells mature, change fate, or support repair. They will study a newly identified capillary cell type and the signaling between distinct mesenchymal cells that may guide regrowth. Findings will be linked to human genetic signals to make lab discoveries more relevant to patients with lung disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with significant alveolar lung injury—such as severe COVID-19 lung damage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, acute respiratory distress, or related pulmonary complications—would be most relevant to the study's goals.
Not a fit: Patients whose symptoms come from non-alveolar causes (for example primarily cardiac or neuromuscular breathing problems) or those with only mild, fully recovered respiratory infections are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify targets to help damaged lung air sacs repair, improving breathing and recovery after severe lung injury.
How similar studies have performed: Recent single-cell studies have uncovered important lung cell types and pathways, but applying these approaches specifically to alveolar repair is still emerging and builds on promising early results.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Jichao — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Chen, Jichao
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.