Investigating lung disease related to systemic sclerosis and blood vessel damage
Official title: Vasculopathy and Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-10888282 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how problems with blood vessels might affect lung health in people with systemic sclerosis, and it aims to help find better treatments for lung disease by examining 100 adults with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $699,456 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL164758-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10888282 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with systemic sclerosis, particularly those showing early signs of lung involvement.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis or those with other unrelated lung conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how damage to blood vessels and the microvascular system contributes to lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). By studying a group of 100 adults with SSc, the researchers aim to explore the connections between lung function, blood vessel health, and the development of interstitial lung disease (ILD). The study will use various methods, including imaging and blood tests, to gather data on how these factors interact and potentially lead to new treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new ways to prevent or treat lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on systemic sclerosis and lung disease, this specific approach targeting microvascular injury as a treatment avenue is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bernstein, Elana — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Bernstein, Elana
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how a cell protein (SLC9A1) drives skin and lung scarring in systemic sclerosis
A five-year NIH grant aims to understand how a specific cell protein called SLC9A1 influences scar-forming cells in systemic sclerosis and related lung disease, with the goal of finding possible therapies.
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From proteins and genes to new treatments for scar-related lung disease
A large NIH grant is working to map the proteins in the lungs of people with systemic sclerosis to find new targets for drugs that could slow or stop lung fibrosis.
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Vasculopathy in Systemic Sclerosis and Lung Disease in Adults
A study in adults with systemic sclerosis will look at how blood vessels in the lungs and body relate to the development of lung disease, with the aim of finding new ways to prevent it.
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Functional markers to guide treatment in systemic sclerosis–related lung disease
A research grant at USC is studying blood biomarkers that show whether medicines are helping people with systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease.
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Systemic sclerosis-related lung disease: who’s at risk and what blood markers hint at it
A dedicated research grant asks how to identify which people with systemic sclerosis will develop interstitial lung disease and which blood biomarkers can signal that risk.
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New treatments for lung scarring in systemic sclerosis
This project looks for new drug targets and therapies to help people with systemic sclerosis who have scarring in their lungs.
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.