Investigating how light can relax airway smooth muscle
Official title: Mechanisms and Modulation of Opsin 3 Mediated Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxation
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11004263 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how light can help relax the muscles in your airways, which is important for people with asthma, by exploring special proteins that respond to light in those muscles.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $165,376 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HL150314-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11004263 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals suffering from asthma or other conditions that involve airway smooth muscle constriction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-respiratory conditions or those who do not have issues related to airway smooth muscle may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the mechanisms by which light can induce relaxation in airway smooth muscle, which is crucial for conditions like asthma. The study focuses on non-visual opsins, which are proteins that respond to light and are found in smooth muscle tissues. By examining how these opsins interact with specific G proteins and signaling pathways, the researchers aim to understand how light can be used to promote relaxation in the airways. The approach includes manipulating light wavelengths and intensities to observe their effects on muscle relaxation and intracellular signaling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments for asthma and other respiratory conditions by utilizing light to relax airway muscles.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of light-mediated relaxation in smooth muscle is relatively novel, preliminary studies have shown promising results in related areas.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yim, Peter D — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Yim, Peter D
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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.