Iron Buildup in Lung Cells and COPD
Alveolar Macrophage Iron Overload in COPD Pathogenesis
This project explores how too much iron in certain lung cells might contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in people who smoke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138725 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
COPD is a serious lung disease, and we know that smokers and people with COPD often have many abnormal immune cells called alveolar macrophages in their lungs. These cells seem to have too much iron and may not work correctly, but we don't fully understand why or how this leads to lung damage like emphysema. This project aims to discover if this iron buildup in lung cells is a key reason why COPD develops and gets worse. Researchers will study lung samples from people with COPD to understand these "iron macrophages" and how they contribute to the disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research uses existing samples and data from smokers and patients with COPD.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have COPD or are not smokers would not be directly relevant to this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat COPD by targeting how iron is handled in the lungs.
How similar studies have performed: While the connection between iron and COPD has been observed, this project explores a novel mechanistic link and identifies new cell subsets, making its specific approach relatively untested.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, William Zhengyang — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Zhang, William Zhengyang
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 below.