New mouse and human lung models to study how T cells drive scleroderma-related lung fibrosis
Official title: Novel Models to Define the Role of Aberrant T Cell Subsets in Scleroderma Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11305094 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how specific T cell types contribute to lung scarring in scleroderma by using advanced mouse and human lung models.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Jewish Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $388,025 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AR085863-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11305094 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), especially those at risk for pulmonary fibrosis, could be impacted by future therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefit is unlikely for individuals without systemic sclerosis or lung involvement.
What this research studies
This project will refine animal and human lung models to study the role of CD4+ T cells in pulmonary fibrosis caused by systemic sclerosis. Researchers will modify an existing scGvHD mouse model to produce more lung disease and test T cell subsets that promote or limit fibrosis using precision-cut lung slices. They will also co-culture healthy lung tissue with T cells from fibrotic lungs to observe how these cells influence scarring. The work emphasizes tissue architecture and immune interactions to uncover potential targets for therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to T cell targets or pathways to slow or halt lung fibrosis in scleroderma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Past models have shown T cells can influence fibrosis, and this project builds on those concepts with more human-relevant tissue testing.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dooms, Hans Peter — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Dooms, Hans Peter
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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.