How mechanical forces affect lung scarring and metabolism in IPF
Official title: Mechanotransduction regulation of cellular metabolism in pulmonary fibrosis
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11382219 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at a major university is studying how the stiffness of lung tissue and specific cellular sensors may drive metabolism changes that worsen idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL169903-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382219 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or related fibrotic lung diseases, and healthy donor lung fibroblasts as controls.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without IPF may not directly benefit from this mechanotransduction-focused research.
What this research studies
In this project, researchers will study how lung cells from people with IPF respond to stiffer environments and how this affects their metabolism and fibrotic behavior. They will examine a mechanoreceptor called Piezo2 and its role in linking tissue rigidity to metabolic changes in both patient-derived cells and mouse models. The work aims to map the steps from physical changes in the lung to metabolic shifts that promote scarring, using both lab-grown cells and pre-clinical animal models. The ultimate goal is to identify new targets that could interrupt the cycle of stiffness and fibrosis to slow disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal new metabolic targets to slow or halt lung fibrosis in IPF patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked tissue stiffness and metabolic changes to fibrosis; this project builds on that knowledge with a novel mechanoreceptor connection.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas Freeberg, Margaret — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Thomas Freeberg, Margaret
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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.