Investigating how lung repair pathways affect tuberculosis
Official title: Role of Lung Repair and Regeneration Pathways in Tuberculosis
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-10988918 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a specific signaling pathway in the body might help heal the lungs and keep tuberculosis (TB) from getting worse, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how our immune system works to fight off TB infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 18, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $246,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI174034-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10988918 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who are latently infected with tuberculosis and at risk of developing active TB.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have active tuberculosis or those without any history of TB infection may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the immune mechanisms involved in tuberculosis (TB), particularly how the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling pathway contributes to lung repair and regeneration during latent TB infection. By analyzing RNA sequencing data, the researchers aim to uncover how these pathways may help control the infection and prevent progression to active disease. The study will involve laboratory experiments to explore the role of BMP in lung tissue repair and its potential protective effects against TB reactivation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing the progression of latent tuberculosis to active disease, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune pathways in tuberculosis, but the specific focus on BMP signaling in lung repair during latency is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahmed, Mushtaq — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Ahmed, Mushtaq
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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.