Preventing lung collapse after lung biopsy
Official title: Pilot Study to Assess Best Practices to Prevent Pneumothorax Following Lung Biopsy
Funded at VA Boston Health Care System · NIH-11173729 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing ways to lower the chance of lung collapse (pneumothorax) after a percutaneous lung biopsy for people with suspicious lung nodules.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I21HX003885-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173729 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People scheduled for a percutaneous (needle) lung biopsy for a suspicious lung nodule, especially VA patients at participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
People not undergoing percutaneous lung biopsy, those managed without biopsy, or those having only non-percutaneous procedures are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
If you need a needle biopsy to check a suspicious spot in your lung, researchers will look at medical records and imaging from VA hospitals to see which techniques and hospital practices lead to fewer pneumothoraces. They will compare outcomes across hospitals, use informatics tools and new data sources, and pilot procedures or care-path changes that appear safer. The team will focus on pneumothoraces that need chest tubes because those cause longer hospital stays and more harm. Findings could be used to create clearer, practical steps clinicians can follow to make biopsies safer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce serious lung collapses after biopsy, lowering chest tube placements and hospital stays while keeping cancer diagnosis timely.
How similar studies have gone: Some individual techniques (for example tract sealants, patient positioning, and needle selection) have shown promise, but no widely accepted, system-level best practices have been established.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Boston Health Care System
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mull, Hillary Jane — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Mull, Hillary Jane
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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.