Lung-specific factors that drive TB progression
Official title: Lung-specific mechanisms of TB progression
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11444624 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at how lung cells and the lung environment influence tuberculosis progression in adults and how this could lead to better prevention and treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $837,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL181536-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444624 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with TB or at risk of pulmonary TB, particularly those who may develop progressive lung disease or post-TB morbidity.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without TB or those not exposed to TB-related lung pathology are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how damage and changes in lung tissue, including alveolar and airway progenitor cells, interact with immune and surrounding cells to create a niche where TB bacteria thrive. They plan to use mouse models that mimic human lung lesions to understand how dysregulated lung regeneration may contribute to progressive disease and severe lung damage. The findings could point to new targets for therapies that prevent transmission and reduce post-treatment lung morbidity. The project emphasizes a lung-specific perspective on TB biology in immunocompetent adults who are susceptible to pulmonary disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding lung-specific TB mechanisms could lead to new therapies that limit lung damage and transmission, improving survival and long-term health for patients with TB.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that lung tissue environment influences TB progression, but identifying the exact lung cell interactions is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kramnik, Igor — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Kramnik, Igor
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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.