Protein MRI agent to detect early lung scarring
Official title: Precision MRI with Protein Contrast Agent for Noninvasive Detection of Lung Fibrosis
Funded at Inlighta Biosciences, LLC · NIH-11186147 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new protein-based MRI contrast agent designed to find early lung scarring in people with pulmonary fibrosis and other fibrotic lung diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Inlighta Biosciences, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Marietta, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,026,874 |
| NIH project number | 2R42HL170898-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11186147 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with suspected or diagnosed interstitial lung disease (including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) or unexplained progressive breathlessness that may be due to lung scarring.
✕Less likely to help
People without fibrotic lung disease, and those with severe kidney failure or known sensitivity to metal-based contrast agents, may not benefit or could be excluded from participation.
What this research studies
This project is developing a protein contrast agent that binds to type I collagen so MRI can highlight areas of lung fibrosis. Researchers are testing the agent in animal models and performing toxicology and metal-clearance studies to check safety. The aim is to create a noninvasive MRI method that shows where fibrosis is active and how severe it is, reducing the need for risky surgical lung biopsies. If preclinical results are promising, the team plans to move toward human imaging studies to detect and stage lung fibrosis over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could allow earlier, safer, and more detailed noninvasive detection and monitoring of lung fibrosis, helping guide treatment without risky biopsies.
How similar studies have gone: This collagen-targeted MRI approach is largely experimental—standard imaging like HRCT is commonly used but cannot reliably detect early fibrosis, and protein-based MRI contrast agents have limited clinical data to date.
Where this research is happening
-
Inlighta Biosciences, LLC
Marietta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Jenny J. — Inlighta Biosciences, LLC
- Study coordinator: Yang, Jenny J.
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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.