IL-33 and IL-9–producing innate immune cells in lung injury after pediatric bone marrow transplant
Official title: IL-33 induced-lL-9 producing type 2 innate lymphoid cells in the regulation of acute lung injury after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric patients
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11017702 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how an immune signal called IL-33 and certain immune cells that make IL-9 affect lung injury in children after allogeneic stem cell (bone marrow) transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $562,620 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL158096-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11017702 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children who have received or will receive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and who are at risk for or developing noninfectious acute lung injury/idiopathic pneumonia syndrome are the ideal candidates to contribute samples or participate in related studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of bone marrow/stem cell transplant, adults, or patients whose lung problems are clearly caused by infection are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific project.
What this research studies
This work links blood and lung samples from children who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants with laboratory experiments to track IL-33, its decoy receptor sST2, IL-9, and specific type 2 innate lymphoid cells. Researchers will measure these molecules in patient samples and use cell and animal models to see how the signals change lung inflammation and damage. The team builds on prior biomarker findings (sST2) and aims to connect those markers to a clear immune mechanism that may drive idiopathic pneumonia syndrome after transplant. Findings will be used to search for ways to predict, prevent, or treat noninfectious acute lung injury after pediatric HSCT.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better blood or lung markers to spot children at high risk for post-transplant lung failure and suggest targets for new treatments to prevent or reduce lung injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work from this group identified sST2 as a biomarker linked to transplant lung complications, but the role of IL-33–driven IL-9–producing ILC2 cells in this setting is a newer, less-tested mechanism.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paczesny, Sophie — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Paczesny, Sophie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gentle electrical stimulation to keep muscles strong during stem cell transplant
This project uses small, gentle electrical pulses to try to help Veterans keep muscle strength and reduce fatigue during and after stem cell transplants for blood cancers.
-
Inpatient yoga therapy for cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplant
A randomized trial will test whether an inpatient yoga program helps people receiving stem cell transplants feel better and cope with treatment.
-
A structured peer support program for people having stem cell transplants
A brief, supportive, phone-based peer program for adults with blood cancers undergoing stem cell transplant to help manage stress and improve recovery.
-
T Cell Precursors to Restore Immune Power After Stem Cell Transplants
This grant supports a patient-friendly approach to speed up immune recovery after a stem cell transplant by giving patients donor‑made T cell precursors that mature into healthy immune cells.
-
Engineering patient avatars to study GVHD after bone marrow transplant
Researchers are creating patient-specific lab models of the gut, liver, and blood to better understand and prevent GVHD after bone marrow transplant, with a focus on children.
-
Optimizing stem cell transplants to treat non-malignant blood diseases
A researcher is pursuing a five-year plan to improve stem cell transplantation strategies for non-cancer blood illnesses, with a focus on safer conditioning, better stem cell collection, and gene editing.
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.