Single-cell sequencing and data analysis support for severe asthma
Core C
Advanced single-cell RNA and protein-tagging methods will profile immune and lung cells from people with severe asthma to reveal disease-related cell types and signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330461 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This core uses droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing combined with CITE-seq and cell hashing to measure gene activity and surface proteins in thousands of individual cells from airway and blood samples. The team also runs bulk RNA-seq and TCR sequencing and develops computational tools to integrate these multi-omic datasets with clinical information. Samples such as bronchoalveolar lavage and other airway tissues from people with severe asthma are processed, sequenced, and analyzed to identify cell types, molecular signatures, and immune features linked to disease. Core C provides sequencing, bioinformatics pipelines, and analytic support for two linked projects within the program project grant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with severe bronchial asthma who can provide clinical information and airway or blood samples (for example during bronchoscopy/bronchoalveolar lavage) at the study site.
Not a fit: People with mild or well-controlled asthma, or those who cannot or will not provide airway samples or clinic visits, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could pinpoint specific cell types, pathways, or biomarkers that guide better-targeted treatments or diagnostics for severe asthma.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell RNA-seq and CITE-seq have produced important results in immune and lung disease research, though integrating multi-omic single-cell profiling specifically for severe asthma is still an emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Wei — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Chen, Wei
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.