Investigating how a lipid mediator helps blood vessels during viral infections
Official title: Sphingolipid signaling in the endothelium during viral host defense
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11002635 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how problems with blood vessel cells can make it harder for our bodies to fight off respiratory viruses and cause issues like bleeding or blood clots, and it’s testing a special treatment that delivers a helpful substance to strengthen blood vessels and improve recovery from these infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $623,678 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167723-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11002635 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals experiencing complications from respiratory viral infections, particularly those with underlying cardiovascular issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have respiratory viral infections or related cardiovascular complications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how endothelial cell dysfunction affects the body's ability to defend against respiratory viral infections and can lead to complications like bleeding and blood clots. The study explores the role of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid that helps maintain healthy blood vessels, particularly during viral infections. Researchers are developing specialized nanoparticles that carry S1P to enhance the resilience of blood vessels and reduce complications. By activating specific signaling pathways, the goal is to improve recovery from viral infections while minimizing adverse effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that enhance vascular health and improve outcomes for patients suffering from respiratory viral infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in enhancing vascular resilience using lipid mediators, but this specific approach with HDL-like nanoparticles is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hla, Timothy Tun — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hla, Timothy Tun
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.