Targeting aging-related blood vessel injury to prevent ARDS in older lungs
Official title: Targeting inflammaging to inhibit endothelial injury and ARDS development in aging lungs
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11431171 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to find ways to protect lung blood vessels in older adults to prevent dangerous lung swelling (ARDS).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $778,202 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL187966-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11431171 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 70 and older with or at risk for ARDS, or patients at risk due to sepsis or pneumonia.
✕Less likely to help
Young and healthy individuals without ARDS risk factors may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how aging makes the blood vessels in the lungs more fragile during sepsis or infection, leading to ARDS. Researchers study the role of a specific enzyme pathway (NOX2) in endothelial cells and how aging affects it, using data from mice and human lung cells. The goal is to identify targets that could be turned into treatments to reduce lung injury and improve survival in older patients with ARDS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new therapies that lower ARDS risk and mortality in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in animals and human cells suggest NOX2 in endothelial cells contributes to lung injury, supporting further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, You-Yang — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Zhao, You-Yang
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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.