Targeted mRNA therapies to treat ARDS
Official title: Targeted mRNA therapies treating ARDS
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-11397786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist is developing a lung-targeted nanoparticle system to deliver therapeutic mRNA directly to lung cells to help people with ARDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL166870-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ARDS or at high risk of developing ARDS, particularly those with severe lung injury from infections, could be eligible for future trials or related studies.
✕Less likely to help
The therapy is experimental and may not benefit all patients, especially if safety or delivery to target cells proves challenging.
What this research studies
This project aims to create specialized lipid nanoparticles that home in on lung cells and deliver mRNA therapy to improve endothelial health and reduce inflammation in ARDS. The work builds on prior vascular-targeting approaches and uses a cell-specific delivery strategy to get the mRNA into the cells most affected by ARDS. The grant supports research during the R00 phase of a mentorship-based career award, involving steps from nanoparticle design to testing in relevant models. If successful, this approach could offer a new way to treat severe lung injury from infections like influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with ARDS could benefit from a new targeted therapy that helps restore lung cell function and reduce lung damage.
How similar studies have gone: Previous targeted nanoparticle approaches have shown promise in delivering therapeutic cargo to specific lung cell types in preclinical models, with limited clinical translation so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Zhengjie — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Zhengjie
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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.