How lung cells and their surroundings drive fibrosis in interstitial lung diseases
Official title: Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions driving progressive fibrosis in interstitial lung diseases
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11412613 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how airway cells, surrounding tissue, and their environment contribute to progressive scarring in interstitial lung diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $779,780 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL175451-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412613 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with interstitial lung diseases at various stages, from early lesions to established fibrosis, may benefit from future trials or derived insights.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-ILD lung conditions or those not connected to epithelial-mesenchymal interactions under study may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project uses modern tissue models and advanced analysis to explore how injury to airway cells and their communication with neighboring cells and the matrix push interstitial lung diseases toward more scarring. Researchers will study early, middle, and late stages of ILD using 3D lung cell cultures that mimic real lung structure and disease progression. They will apply spatial transcriptomics, single-cell protein analysis, and regional proteomics to map how epithelial, mesenchymal, and matrix components interact over time. The goal is to uncover why fibrosis progresses and identify points where interventions might halt or slow it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets and approaches to prevent or slow lung fibrosis in ILD patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research with similar 3D models and omics approaches has shown promise in mapping cell interactions related to fibrosis, supporting potential impact.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gomperts, Brigitte N — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Gomperts, Brigitte N
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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.