Neutrophils and lung inflammation: how these white blood cells drive injury and repair in airway diseases
The Neu-Lung Consortium: Neutrophilic Mechanisms of Inflammation, Injury, and Repair in Lung and Airways Diseases
This project looks at how a type of white blood cell called neutrophils causes inflammation, injury, and repair in people with airway and lung diseases like asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11387522 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone with an airway condition, this work studies how neutrophils behave in the lungs during infection, injury, and healing. The researchers will use laboratory experiments, animal models, and samples from human airways to learn when neutrophils help versus when they cause harm. The team brings together multiple investigators to identify the biological steps that drive damaging inflammation or promote repair. Their goal is to point toward new ways to prevent lung injury or improve recovery for people with neutrophil-driven airway diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with airway or lung diseases linked to neutrophilic inflammation—such as severe or neutrophilic asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, or acute lung injury—would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not driven by neutrophil inflammation (for example, purely allergic eosinophilic asthma without neutrophil involvement) may not directly benefit from the findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new tests or treatments that reduce harmful neutrophil-driven inflammation and help lungs heal better.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown neutrophils can both protect and damage the lung, but direct therapies targeting neutrophil-driven lung injury have been limited, so this consortium builds on earlier findings rather than presenting a proven treatment.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eisenbarth, Stephanie Caroline — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Eisenbarth, Stephanie Caroline
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 below.