Neutrophil responses in pneumococcal pneumonia and acute lung injury
Official title: Migration and resolution, lung microenvironment and mechanisms: examining the diverse responses of neutrophils during S. pneumoniae pneumonia and acute lung injury
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11330656 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will track how neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) change and where they go during pneumococcal pneumonia and acute lung injury to find ways to protect lungs and help recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $744,784 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175463-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330656 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have or recently had pneumococcal (Streptococcus pneumoniae) pneumonia or acute lung injury/ARDS would be the most relevant candidates for related studies or sample donation.
✕Less likely to help
People without bacterial pneumonia or whose lung problems are caused by non-infectious conditions may not benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This project follows neutrophils — the immune cells that flood infected lungs — during Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia and acute lung injury. The team will measure changes in neutrophil gene activity, surface markers, and cytokine profiles and map their locations within lung airspaces and tissue microenvironments. They will compare timing and spatial patterns to see when neutrophils help clear infection and repair tissue versus when they worsen lung injury. Results come from laboratory analyses of infected lung tissue and immune cells and aim to point toward new treatment targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify targets to reduce lung damage and speed recovery from pneumococcal pneumonia and ARDS.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown neutrophils are diverse and can harm or help the lung, but translating those findings to new treatments remains limited, making this spatial and transcriptomic approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doerschuk, Claire M — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Doerschuk, Claire M
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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.