How lung progenitor cells change with age and in lung cancer
Progenitor cell states contributing to aging and lung cancer
This project looks at how aging changes lung progenitor cells and how those changes may raise the risk of lung cancer in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174400 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study alveolar type II (AT2) cells, the lung progenitor cells that help repair tiny air sacs, to see how they change with age. They will map metabolic and epigenetic differences using advanced single-cell and molecular methods on aged versus younger cells, likely including human-derived samples. The team will grow organoids (mini lung tissues in the lab) and build new models to test whether those age-related changes make cells more prone to starting tumors. Findings will be used to look for early markers or targets that could help prevent or detect lung cancer sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults, especially older adults or people at higher risk for lung cancer, who are willing to donate lung tissue, cells, or other biospecimens or participate in related sample-collection procedures.
Not a fit: People needing immediate treatment for active lung cancer, children, or anyone unwilling or unable to provide tissue or biospecimens are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to detect or prevent age-related lung cancer before it starts.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell and organoid methods have provided important insights in other cancers, but combining metabolic and epigenetic mapping in aged lung progenitor cells is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haigis, Marcia — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Haigis, Marcia
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.