Loss of Cilia Maintenance in Acquired and Genetic Lung Diseases
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11400358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why tiny hair-like structures in the lungs lose their maintenance and how this affects people with asthma, COPD, and related airway diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $736,946 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL180759-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with asthma or COPD and individuals at risk of airway ciliopathies who can provide airway tissue samples or participate in related experiments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without airway ciliopathy or relevant inflammatory airway conditions may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project investigates how airway cilia—the tiny hairs that help clear mucus—lose maintenance in both inherited and acquired lung diseases. The team will study cellular processes in human airway tissues and cell cultures to understand why cilia shorten, stop moving properly, or disappear in conditions like asthma and COPD. They will use patient samples and laboratory models to observe ciliary proteins and how inflammatory signals may cause their displacement from cilia to the cell body. Findings could reveal new targets to preserve or restore mucociliary clearance in patients with airway disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to protect or restore cilia function, improving mucus clearance and breathing for people with asthma and COPD.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in human airway tissues and cell models show ciliary protein mislocalization under inflammatory conditions, supporting a plausible path forward.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mahjoub, Mohamed (Moe) Reza — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mahjoub, Mohamed (Moe) Reza
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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.