Hydrogen sulfide to protect newborns' airways

Hydrogen Sulfide in Neonatal Airway Disease

['FUNDING_R01'] · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · NIH-11241990

Looking at whether giving hydrogen sulfide can protect the airways of premature newborns who need extra oxygen.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorMAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER (nih funded)
Locations1 site (ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11241990 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers will study cells from human fetal airways and use newborn mouse models that are exposed to moderate extra oxygen to mimic what happens in premature infants. They will measure how oxygen affects the body's own hydrogen sulfide system in airway smooth muscle and test whether adding hydrogen sulfide donors can prevent airway tightening and abnormal muscle growth. Lab work will examine cellular signals, muscle contractility, and extracellular matrix changes that lead to breathing problems. The goal is to find approaches that could be developed into treatments to protect developing airways.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is most relevant for very premature infants who require supplemental oxygen and for families or tissue donors able to provide fetal lung samples for lab studies.

Not a fit: Children and adults whose airway problems are not linked to prematurity or oxygen exposure, or people who cannot provide tissue samples, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that protect premature infants' airways from oxygen-related damage and reduce short- and long-term breathing problems.

How similar studies have performed: Some preclinical studies suggest hydrogen sulfide can protect tissues, but applying H2S to prevent oxygen-related airway changes in newborns is largely novel and untested in people.

Where this research is happening

ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.