How the lung's tiny air sacs stay healthy, heal after injury, and sometimes scar
Mechanisms of Alveolar Homeostasis, Injury, Regeneration, and Fibrosis
Researchers are working to understand how the cells that line lung air sacs repair damage or instead lead to scarring in people with ARDS and pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11298933 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on the two main cell types that line the alveoli (alveolar type 2 and type 1 cells) and how they interact with fibroblasts and immune cells to keep the air sac intact. Scientists will examine the signals that keep alveoli quiet during health, what goes wrong when cells die during injury, and how regeneration normally restores the barrier. The team will use laboratory models and comparisons to disease samples to pinpoint mechanisms that fail in ARDS and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Findings will guide ideas for treatments that help lungs repair without forming scar tissue.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), or people able to donate lung tissue, blood, or other samples for research.
Not a fit: People with unrelated respiratory problems (for example purely airway diseases like uncomplicated asthma) or those not willing to provide samples are less likely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost lung repair and prevent or reduce scarring in ARDS and pulmonary fibrosis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows alveolar type 2 cells can regenerate lung tissue in lab and animal models, but turning that knowledge into proven treatments for ARDS or fibrosis remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zemans, Rachel Lynne — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Zemans, Rachel Lynne
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.