Measuring lung stiffness to evaluate new treatments for lung disease
Official title: Stiffness measurements in human lung slices to evaluate therapeutic and preventive potentials of anti-fibrotic drugs
Funded at Mechanobiologix, LLC · NIH-11006721 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how stiff lung tissue is to help find better treatments for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a serious lung disease, and it could lead to new options for patients who currently have limited choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mechanobiologix, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newton, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | September 16, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $306,748 |
| NIH project number | 1R43HL176301-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11006721 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis or those at risk of developing this condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of lung disease or those who do not have a diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the stiffness of lung tissue to better understand and evaluate potential treatments for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a serious lung condition. By using a novel biomechanical method on human lung slices, the study aims to measure both macro- and micro-scale stiffness, which could provide insights into how well a drug might work in reducing or preventing the progression of IPF. The approach combines traditional drug discovery endpoints with these new stiffness measurements to create a more comprehensive evaluation of therapeutic candidates. Patients may benefit from this research as it seeks to identify effective treatments for a currently incurable disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that effectively slow or stop the progression of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of measuring lung stiffness is innovative, similar methodologies have shown promise in other areas of pulmonary research, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
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Mechanobiologix, LLC
Newton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Jae Hun — Mechanobiologix, LLC
- Study coordinator: Kim, Jae Hun
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.