Targeting WNT7A Signaling to Improve Lung Repair in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Official title: Targeting WNT7A Signaling in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11377523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to test whether blocking WNT7A signaling can help the lungs repair themselves and reduce scarring in people with a serious lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $771,522 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL172990-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or lung fibrosis, who are eligible for tissue studies or future therapeutic trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease does not involve basal-like cell dysfunction or who cannot participate in tissue-based studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how abnormal basal-like lung cells might drive fibrosis by turning on WNT7A signals. Researchers will study human lung tissue from transplant samples and use mouse models to understand how WNT7A affects alveolar stem cells and fibroblast activation. The goal is to see if inhibiting this pathway can restore healthy lung cell renewal and lessen scarring, potentially slowing IPF progression. If successful, findings could guide new treatments that protect lung function in patients with fibrotic lung disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, patients with IPF could experience slower disease progression and improved lung function.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest WNT pathways influence lung cell behavior, but this exact approach is investigational and novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Dianhua — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Dianhua
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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.