SFTA2 and ADGRF5: a pathway that could protect the lungs from severe injury
Official title: Role of the SFTA2/ADGRF5 signaling axis in alveolar homeostasis
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11399181 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how a lung cell signaling pathway involving SFTA2 and ADGRF5 could help keep lung surfactant balance and reduce damage in serious lung illnesses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Jewish Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $655,721 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL177550-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399181 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with acute lung injury or ARDS or those at risk for surfactant dysfunction could benefit from future therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without lung surfactant disorders or those not affected by alveolar surfactant imbalance are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how alveolar cells regulate surfactant to keep lungs functioning during acute injury and ARDS. They propose that a secreted protein, SFTA2, interacts with the ADGRF5 receptor to control surfactant pools, and aim to test this in cellular and animal models. The work focuses on understanding whether targeting this pathway could become a therapy to prevent or lessen lung damage in patients with acute respiratory distress and related conditions. Findings could point toward new drug targets that help restore surfactant balance and reduce inflammation in the lungs. The study is conducted at National Jewish Health under Dr. Bridges and colleagues and spans several years with translational potential to human patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that improve surfactant balance and reduce lung injury in ARDS and related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports the role of surfactant pathways in lung injury, with emerging evidence for SFTA2/ADGRF5 as a therapeutic target.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bridges, James Patrick — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Bridges, James Patrick
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Predictive models for BeS and CBD in exposed workers
Aimed at people exposed to beryllium, this project will build models to identify who is at risk for beryllium sensitization and Chronic Beryllium Disease using lung samples and data.
-
Understanding how early skin biology affects the development of allergies in children
A study with infants and young children aims to understand why some kids with eczema (atopic dermatitis) go on to develop food allergies and asthma, by looking at skin biology and immune patterns still early in life.
-
Rare airway cells and how they affect lung infections after a viral illness
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.
-
Obinutuzumab for CTD-Related Interstitial Lung Disease in adults
This project tests whether the anti-B cell therapy obinutuzumab can help adults with connective tissue disease–related ILD who are on mycophenolate therapy.
-
Effects of Temperature Fluctuation on the Skin Barrier (K08)
A clinician-scientist is being mentored over 5 years to understand how changes in temperature affect the skin barrier and the development of allergies in children.
-
Precision tapering of dupilumab in asthma for safer, cost-saving interval extension
We’re testing if adults with well-controlled asthma on dupilumab can safely extend the time between injections to reduce costs and burden.
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.