How lung cells change in early and worsening pulmonary fibrosis
Official title: Project 4: Defining the Molecular Natural History of Early and Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11193835 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will map how specific lung cells and their local neighborhoods change over time in people at risk for or with pulmonary fibrosis using advanced tissue-based gene mapping.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $404,240 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL172729-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193835 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a family history of pulmonary fibrosis or early imaging/biopsy signs of fibrosis who can provide or undergo transbronchial biopsy tissue collection are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without pulmonary fibrosis or those unwilling or unable to provide biopsy samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will analyze small lung biopsy samples collected during bronchoscopies and preserved in routine pathology blocks using spatial transcriptomics and single-cell gene mapping. They will compare samples from people with family risk for pulmonary fibrosis, declined donor lungs, and late-stage cases to find which cell types and molecular neighborhoods change first. The team uses archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded transbronchial biopsy tissue plus new samples to localize molecular and cellular dysregulation in the earliest phases of disease. The goal is to pinpoint where and when scarring processes begin so future tests or treatments can target those early changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify early molecular signs and locations of lung scarring that enable earlier diagnosis or development of treatments that target the disease sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Single-cell and spatial transcriptomic studies have revealed new cell types and disease niches in advanced pulmonary fibrosis, but applying these methods to early, biopsy-based samples is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Banovich, Nicholas Eli — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Banovich, Nicholas Eli
Related research
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The effects of air pollution on progressive pulmonary fibrosis
This study is looking at how air pollution, especially tiny particles and nitrogen dioxide, might lead to a serious lung condition called progressive pulmonary fibrosis, particularly in people living in areas that are more vulnerable to pollution.
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Understanding how lung fibrosis progresses at a molecular level
This study is looking at how a substance called hyaluronan affects lung inflammation and healing in people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis, with the hope of finding new ways to help improve lung health.
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.