Oxidant signaling and high blood pressure in the lungs due to low oxygen
Official title: Oxidant Signaling in Pulmonary Hypertension
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-11374754 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies why low oxygen levels in the lungs can cause high blood pressure in the lungs by looking at the signals inside lung blood vessel cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $574,429 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169945-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374754 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with chronic lung diseases (like COPD or sleep apnea) or individuals exposed to chronic low oxygen who might benefit from future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic lung disease or exposure to chronic hypoxia are unlikely to benefit from this basic mechanistic study.
What this research studies
If you have lung disease or live at high altitude, your blood vessels in the lungs can tighten and thicken, making it harder for the heart to pump. The study will examine how oxidant signaling in airway and lung blood vessel cells contributes to this process, using animal models to explore the underlying mechanisms. Researchers will focus on caveolae proteins and how they affect calcium and reactive oxygen species in cells, which may drive vasoconstriction and remodeling. The goal is to uncover targets that could prevent or reduce pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic low oxygen. These findings could inform future strategies to protect lung function and heart health in affected patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new approaches to prevent or treat pulmonary hypertension in people with lung disease or those living at high altitude.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests oxidant signaling and caveolae-related pathways are important in pulmonary vascular responses, supporting the scientific basis for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Resta, Thomas C — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Resta, Thomas C
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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.