Iron buildup and lung scarring in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Official title: The Role of Iron In Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funded at Oklahoma State University Stillwater · NIH-11247151 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether iron buildup inside lung cells causes or worsens scarring in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma State University Stillwater NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stillwater, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $446,032 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL157450-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247151 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, particularly those with histories of asbestos exposure or cigarette smoke, would be the primary group who could benefit from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose fibrosis is driven by mechanisms unrelated to iron accumulation or who have very advanced, irreversible scarring may not benefit directly from these results.
What this research studies
If you have IPF, the team is studying lung cells called fibroblasts to see how iron accumulates and triggers scar-forming behavior. They focus on genes that control iron export (SLC40A1) and two iron-regulated genes (SH3RF1 and HIPK2) using lab-grown cells and experimental lung-injury models. The researchers use molecular biology tools to trace how iron changes cell signaling and drives fibrosis. Their work aims to identify biological targets that could lead to new treatments to slow or stop lung scarring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that reduce iron-driven lung scarring and slow disease progression in IPF.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked iron accumulation with lung fibrosis, but focusing on SLC40A1, SH3RF1, and HIPK2 as actionable molecular mechanisms is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Oklahoma State University Stillwater
Stillwater, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Lin — Oklahoma State University Stillwater
- Study coordinator: Liu, Lin
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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.