Repairing injured lungs with isolated lung perfusion
Targeted treatment of acute lung injury using isolated lung perfusion
This project tries pumping a protective solution through injured lungs—either outside the body or while isolated in the chest—to help people with ARDS or lungs damaged after transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11230212 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use two related approaches: ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to treat donor lungs outside the body and in vivo lung perfusion (IVLP) to isolate and treat a patient’s injured lung while it remains in the chest. The lung is kept at normal temperature and circulated with a protective fluid called Steen solution so targeted drugs can be delivered directly to the lung without exposing the rest of the body. The team will study whether this approach restores the lung’s barrier function and reduces damage caused by ARDS or ischemia-reperfusion after transplant. Lab studies include testing drugs that block channels called Panx1 and TRPV4 that may protect the lung lining, with translation toward treated donor lungs or patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or patients experiencing ischemia-reperfusion injury after lung transplant, and donor lungs being evaluated for transplant, would be the main candidates.
Not a fit: People with mild breathing problems, chronic stable lung diseases without ARDS or transplant-related injury, or conditions unrelated to lung endothelial injury are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let clinicians rapidly repair badly injured lungs, lower deaths from ARDS, and increase the number of donor lungs suitable for transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Ex vivo lung perfusion is already used clinically to rehabilitate donor lungs, while in vivo lung perfusion and targeted blockade of Panx1/TRPV4 are newer and mainly supported by preclinical or early translational studies.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kron, Irving L. — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Kron, Irving L.
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 below.