Targeting airway BK channels to help mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis and COPD
Official title: Targeting airway BK channels for first in class, mutation agnostic treatment of mucus plugging in cystic fibrosis
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11353188 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A first-in-class inhaled treatment aims to open specific airway channels to help clear mucus for people with cystic fibrosis or COPD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $426,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HL185889-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353188 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) with airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis or COPD who struggle with mucus plugging and do not benefit from existing CFTR modulators.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without mucus plugging or those who would not be candidates for inhaled BK channel therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project proposes an inhaled therapy that uses BK channel potentiators to improve mucus clearance in the airways. The approach focuses on making the drug stay in the lungs longer and reach high local concentrations to overcome inflammation-related barriers. It is designed to work across CFTR mutation types and may help those who do not benefit from current CFTR modulators. The work is at a early, proof-of-concept stage and involves a novel delivery system to target the airways. If successful, it could lead to a new option for reducing mucus plugging and preserving lung function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better mucus clearance and improved breathing.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mucus-clearance strategies have shown promise in early-stage studies, but this approach is novel in using airway BK channel potentiation with targeted delivery.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salathe, Matthias a — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Salathe, Matthias a
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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.