Targeting a specific protein to treat lung fibrosis in ferrets
Official title: Therapeutic targeting of MUC5B in a novel ferret model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-10745662 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called MUC5B affects idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) using ferrets, which have lungs similar to ours, to help find new ways to treat or even reverse the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2020 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $564,741 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL152978-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10745662 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk for or diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, particularly those with genetic predispositions related to MUC5B.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of lung disease or those not affected by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the MUC5B protein in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) using a novel ferret model. The study aims to understand how MUC5B contributes to the development of IPF and to identify potential therapeutic targets that could halt or reverse the disease. By utilizing ferrets, which have lung physiology similar to humans, researchers hope to replicate key features of human IPF and evaluate new treatment strategies. The approach includes exposing ferrets to bleomycin to induce lung fibrosis and studying the resulting changes at a molecular level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that effectively treat or manage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: While murine models have been used in similar research, this ferret model represents a novel approach that has not yet been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rowe, Steven Mark — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Rowe, Steven Mark
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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.