Role of protective proteins in the esophagus to treat eosinophilic esophagitis
Official title: The role of serpins and LRP1 in the esophageal epithelium during eosinophilic esophagitis
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11353961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to understand how certain proteins protect or restore the esophageal lining in children with eosinophilic esophagitis and how this could lead to better long-lasting therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $563,828 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136512-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents with eosinophilic esophagitis or risk factors related to the esophageal barrier.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those without EoE are unlikely to directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This grant examines how the esophageal barrier becomes damaged in eosinophilic esophagitis and how serine protease inhibitors and receptors like LRP1 influence recovery. The team will study these processes in cell and animal models to identify mechanisms that preserve barrier function and reduce allergic inflammation. The goal is to translate these findings into therapies that have lasting effects for children suffering from EoE. The work builds on prior evidence that modulating proteolytic activity can reverse disease features and extends it to a new regulatory pathway involving LRP1.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to therapies that restore the esophageal barrier and decrease symptoms for children with EoE.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed that protease inhibitors can reverse EoE-like features in preclinical models, supporting potential translational progress.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Azouz, Nurit P — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Azouz, Nurit P
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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.