Mitochondrial problems linked to a deadly lung disease
Official title: Mitochondrial dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11370672 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how failures in cell energy factories may cause pulmonary arterial hypertension and could lead to new ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $661,981 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL160666-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370672 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pulmonary arterial hypertension or related mitochondrial dysfunction may benefit from advances informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
This research is basic and animal-focused; it may not provide direct benefits to individual patients in the short term.
What this research studies
Researchers are using a rat model that mimics mitochondrial defects seen in PAH to understand whether energy problems in cells actually drive the disease. The work focuses on how mitochondrial dysfunction affects blood vessel growth, cell signaling, and fat/energy metabolism in the lungs. By examining rats with a mutation that disrupts key mitochondrial processes, the team hopes to identify steps that could be targeted with new therapies. This project builds on prior findings showing MD can initiate PAH in healthy animals, aiming to translate those insights toward patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to new treatments that correct mitochondrial defects to slow or halt PAH progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction can initiate PAH in animals, supporting a plausible path toward human relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rafikova, Olga — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Rafikova, Olga
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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.