How natural and prescribed steroids and regulatory immune cells help lungs heal after ARDS
The effect of endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids acting through regulatory T cells on resolution of ALI and the contribution of host genetic variability.
This project looks at how both your body's own steroids and prescribed steroid treatments work with regulatory immune cells to help lungs recover after ARDS or severe pneumonia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11270636 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's viewpoint, researchers will compare immune cells from injured and recovering lungs to see how steroids change their behavior during healing. The team will use laboratory models (mice) and analyze gene activity in regulatory T cells, alongside samples from people with ARDS when available. They will also study how genetic differences between patients change responses to steroid treatment. The work aims to link timing, dose, and cause of lung injury to how steroids affect repair.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults with ARDS or severe pneumonia who can provide blood or lung samples or join observational parts of the research.
Not a fit: People without ARDS or those with medical reasons they cannot receive glucocorticoids are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help personalize steroid treatment to improve lung repair and outcomes after ARDS or severe pneumonia.
How similar studies have performed: Clinical trials have shown steroids can lower mortality in ARDS and pneumonia, but the specific effects on regulatory T cells and the role of patient genetics remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mock, Jason Robert — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Mock, Jason Robert
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.