How the let‑7 microRNA affects lung stem cells and scarring
Official title: Delineating the role of let-7 microRNA on lung AT2 cell homeostasis, alveolar regeneration, and interstitial lung disease
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11323157 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a small RNA called let‑7 helps lung stem cells repair air sacs and reduce scarring in people with interstitial lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $515,003 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167814-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323157 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with interstitial lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis would be the patient group most likely to benefit from therapies developed from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated lung disorders or those needing immediate clinical interventions are unlikely to get direct benefit from this preclinical research.
What this research studies
Researchers will reduce or remove let‑7 microRNA in alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells in animal models to see how those lung stem cells age and repair after injury. They will use genomic tools such as ATAC‑seq and cell‑level analyses to map changes in AT2 cell states and identify faulty repair pathways. The team will examine lungs for fibrosis, inflammation, and surfactant defects that resemble human interstitial lung disease. Results will be used to highlight molecular steps that could become targets for future therapies to improve alveolar regeneration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets to help lungs repair themselves and reduce scarring in interstitial lung disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior mouse studies from the investigators showed that removing let‑7 in AT2 cells leads to age‑dependent lung remodeling and fibrosis, so this project builds on promising preclinical evidence but remains at the laboratory stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rodriguez, Antony — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Rodriguez, Antony
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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.