Targeting GPRC5A and GPRC5B in airway smooth muscle for asthma therapy
Official title: Strategic targeting of GPRC5A and GPRC5B in airway smooth muscle
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11417221 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing new targets in airway smooth muscle to help people with asthma breathe more easily and reduce airway remodeling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $332,180 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL180318-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417221 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with asthma who have airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling features may benefit from future translational applications stemming from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with asthma for whom the targets are not relevant or who are not responsive to pathways involving GPCR signaling may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on two orphan GPCRs, GPRC5A and GPRC5B, in the airway smooth muscle that controls contraction and remodeling in asthma. By studying how RA-induced signaling affects these receptors, the researchers aim to identify potential therapeutic strategies that could complement existing asthma treatments. The work involves human airway samples and mechanistic studies in cell systems to understand how these receptors influence airway function and inflammation. If successful, the findings could point toward novel approaches to improve bronchodilation and reduce remodeling in asthmatic airways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new therapies that improve airway relaxation and reduce remodeling in asthma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary evidence suggests RA-related GPCRs are expressed in airway smooth muscle and linked to inflammatory states, but this specific RAIG (GPRC5A/B) area is novel with limited prior human data.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prakash, Y. S. — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Prakash, Y. S.
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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.