Investigating how vitamin D affects lung development and chronic lung disease in infants
Official title: Role of Vitamin D in Lung Development and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10765733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how vitamin D might help improve lung development in premature babies and protect them from a lung condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), using mouse models to learn more about how it works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 15, 2020 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $161,899 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HL150222-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10765733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are preterm infants who are at risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are full-term infants or those without a history of respiratory complications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease that affects preterm infants and can lead to long-term respiratory issues. The study aims to understand the role of vitamin D in promoting lung development and its potential protective effects against BPD. By utilizing mouse models, the research will explore the mechanisms through which vitamin D influences lung growth and vascular development. The principal investigator, a neonatologist, seeks to enhance their skills in genetics and bioinformatics to better analyze the impact of vitamin D on lung health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for preventing or mitigating chronic lung disease in preterm infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results regarding the role of vitamin D in lung development, suggesting that this approach may lead to significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mandell, Erica Wynne — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Mandell, Erica Wynne
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Role of uneven lung growth in chronic lung disease from birth to adulthood
This grant explores how mismatched growth of airways, airspaces, and blood vessels during early life might lead to lasting lung problems in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and how that affects people over time.
-
Regulatory T Cells and Lung Disease-Related High Blood Pressure in Adults
This project studies how a type of immune cell called regulatory T cells may influence inflammation and blood vessel changes in lung disease, with potential relevance to adults who have vascular issues in their lungs.
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Understanding how breathing effort in premature babies with lung disease comes from different lung problems
A research project aims to create a patient-specific tool to measure how different features of bronchopulmonary dysplasia contribute to the struggle to breathe in premature infants.
-
Role of LKB1 in reduced lung blood vessel growth in BPD
Aims to understand how a cellular regulator (LKB1) affects blood vessel formation in the lungs of preterm infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
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A new approach to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants
A new treatment strategy aimed at improving lung development in premature babies at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
-
L-Citrulline for BPD-related Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Babies
A first-in-human study will test safe and effective doses of L-citrulline given by mouth to stability-preterm infants at risk for lung blood pressure problems.
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.