Rare airway cells and how they affect lung infections after a viral illness
Official title: Rare Airway Cell Function in Post-Viral Chronic Inflammation
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11550180 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at a rare airway cell type called M cells to see how they influence secondary bacterial infections after a viral lung illness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Jewish Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | July 24, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HL169897-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11550180 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who have had severe viral lung infections and are at risk for or recovering from secondary bacterial infections.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of viral lung injury or secondary bacterial infections may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The project studies how tuft cells and the rare M cells in the airways behave after influenza and how they interact with bacteria that cause lung infections. Using advanced single-cell techniques, researchers map which airway cells are present during recovery and what roles they play in inflammation and repair. The goal is to understand if M cells make people more susceptible to bacterial pneumonia or help defend against it, potentially guiding new treatments. This work focuses on translating findings from human-relevant airway biology to better outcomes after viral lung injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these cell roles could lead to strategies to prevent or lessen secondary bacterial lung infections after viral illnesses.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work has identified rare airway cells during repair, suggesting this line of inquiry could reveal actionable insights, though this area is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barr, Justinn — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Barr, Justinn
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.