Investigating how iron overload in immune cells affects COPD
Official title: Alveolar Macrophage Iron Overload in COPD Pathogenesis
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-10890163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells in the lungs, called alveolar macrophages, are affected by cigarette smoke and how this might lead to worsening COPD, with the hope of finding new ways to help improve treatment for people with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $169,020 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HL165081-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10890163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly those with a history of smoking.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with COPD who do not have a history of smoking or those with other unrelated respiratory conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of alveolar macrophages, a type of immune cell in the lungs, in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It aims to uncover how cigarette smoke leads to dysfunction in these cells and contributes to lung damage and disease progression. By analyzing samples from a large cohort of COPD patients and using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, the study seeks to identify specific cellular changes related to iron accumulation. This could provide insights into new therapeutic targets for improving COPD outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that target iron overload in immune cells, potentially improving the health and quality of life for COPD patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of immune cells in COPD, but this specific approach focusing on iron overload is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, William Zhengyang — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Zhang, William Zhengyang
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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.