How tiny chemical signals drive inflammation using new microfluidic tests
Deciphering the role of chemical signals in inflammation with open microfluidic functional assays
This project builds lab tools to reveal how small chemical signals from immune and microbial cells shape inflammation, aiming to help people with inflammatory conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136987 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is building tiny open microfluidic devices that let different human cell types and microbes be placed near each other so scientists can watch chemical signals move between them. They will use microscale co- and multiculture methods combined with sampling of volatile organic compounds to study how immune cells like eosinophils communicate with fibroblasts and how microbes change that signaling. The work also plans to extend these methods to complex human-bacteria-fungal cultures and to develop at-home biofluid sampling so immune responses can be tracked over time. Together, these approaches aim to pinpoint the small molecules that drive harmful inflammation and suggest new diagnostic or treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inflammatory conditions (for example asthma, allergic diseases, or other chronic inflammatory disorders) or volunteers willing to provide blood or other biofluid samples would be the best candidates to contribute samples or take part in related collection efforts.
Not a fit: Patients who are not willing to provide samples or who need immediate changes to their clinical care are unlikely to receive direct personal benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could pinpoint chemical drivers of inflammation and lead to better diagnostics or more targeted treatments for inflammatory diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related microfluidic co-culture methods have shown promise in laboratory studies, but applying them to complex human-microbe interactions and volatile signaling is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Theberge, Ashleigh Brooks — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Theberge, Ashleigh Brooks
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.