How newborn lung immune cells protect babies from oxygen-related lung damage
Role of neonatal lung macrophages in mediating resilience to hyperoxia induced lung injury via TREM2 signaling
This project looks for ways newborn lung immune cells help premature babies avoid long-term lung damage from extra oxygen.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323875 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your baby was born early and needed extra oxygen, they may be at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung condition. This research focuses on lung immune cells called macrophages and a signaling protein named TREM2 to understand why some lungs are more resilient to oxygen injury. Researchers will study cell samples and use gene-activity techniques (such as ATAC-seq) and lab models to map protective gene programs. The aim is to translate those findings into ideas that could lead to prevention or new treatments for BPD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be premature infants at risk for BPD (for example, very low birth weight or early gestational age) or families of such infants if the study involves sample collection.
Not a fit: Full-term infants or people with unrelated adult lung conditions are unlikely to directly benefit from this neonatal-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal immune pathways that help prevent or reduce long-term lung damage in babies born prematurely.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show immune cells can affect BPD risk, but targeting TREM2 signaling in neonatal macrophages is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sajti, Eniko — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Sajti, Eniko
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.