Natural inflammation‑resolving molecules and emphysema
Official title: Role of specialized pro-resolving mediators of inflammation resolution in emphysema: analyses of SPIROMICS and LEEP
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11144318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether higher blood levels of natural inflammation‑resolving molecules are linked to better breathing and less lung damage in people with emphysema.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $123,730 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HL175177-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults diagnosed with emphysema or COPD, especially those who have provided or would provide blood samples and clinical data to research cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
People without emphysema or COPD or those expecting immediate new treatments should not expect direct personal benefit from this observational research.
What this research studies
If you have emphysema, the team will measure specific blood lipids called specialized pro‑resolving mediators (SPMs) that help the body switch off inflammation. They will use stored blood samples and detailed health data from large COPD research groups (SPIROMICS) and then check the findings in another group (LEEP). The researchers will compare SPM levels with lung function, emphysema severity on scans, and respiratory outcomes to see which patterns relate to better or worse health. Findings will be validated across both datasets to strengthen confidence in any links they find.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to blood markers and new ways to boost the body’s natural inflammation‑resolving pathways to protect lungs in emphysema.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research has linked these inflammation‑resolving molecules to outcomes in asthma, cardiovascular disease, and COVID‑19, but their role in emphysema is largely unproven and novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bose, Sonali — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Bose, Sonali
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Precision phenotyping of emphysema in the elderly: a study in diverse adults
Researchers will look at CT scans and lung tests in older adults to understand different forms of emphysema and how they relate to health outcomes.
-
Lithium as a potential disease-modifying treatment for emphysema using a precision approach
A low-dose lithium approach is being studied to slow or modify emphysema in smokers who have COPD.
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Imaging and multi-omics to find subtypes of emphysema in COPD
This project looks for molecular subtypes of emphysema in COPD by combining imaging with blood and tissue data to improve understanding and treatment options.
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Precision phenotyping of emphysema in the elderly: the MESA Lung Study
Aging adults with or without COPD-related symptoms may benefit from a new study that maps subtypes of emphysema on CT scans to better predict health risks.
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E-cigarette use and emphysema risk in young adults (VapeScan)
A study to understand whether vaping or traditional cigarettes cause early lung damage in young adults.
-
Loss of lung blood-vessel stem cells that may speed lung aging and raise emphysema risk
Researchers will look at how losing a type of lung blood-vessel progenitor cell may make lungs age faster and increase emphysema risk in adults.
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.