The connection between gut health and lung development in newborns
Official title: The gut-lung axis influences the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-10871879 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny fungi in the gut might influence lung health in newborns, especially those at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), to help find better treatments for these little ones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $165,456 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HL151907-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10871879 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are premature infants, particularly those under 4 weeks old, who are at risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not premature or who do not have any risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the gut microbiome, particularly fungi, affects lung health in newborns, specifically in relation to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The study focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind this gut-lung connection during the critical neonatal period. By employing advanced techniques in molecular mycology and clinical research, the project aims to uncover causal relationships that could inform future treatments. The research is led by a neonatologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who is receiving mentorship and training to enhance his expertise in this area.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants.
How similar studies have gone: While the gut-lung axis is a relatively novel area of investigation, preliminary studies have shown promising results in understanding its implications for respiratory health.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Willis, Kent Avery — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Willis, Kent Avery
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Role of uneven lung growth in chronic lung disease from birth to adulthood
This grant explores how mismatched growth of airways, airspaces, and blood vessels during early life might lead to lasting lung problems in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and how that affects people over time.
-
Regulatory T Cells and Lung Disease-Related High Blood Pressure in Adults
This project studies how a type of immune cell called regulatory T cells may influence inflammation and blood vessel changes in lung disease, with potential relevance to adults who have vascular issues in their lungs.
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Understanding how breathing effort in premature babies with lung disease comes from different lung problems
A research project aims to create a patient-specific tool to measure how different features of bronchopulmonary dysplasia contribute to the struggle to breathe in premature infants.
-
Role of LKB1 in reduced lung blood vessel growth in BPD
Aims to understand how a cellular regulator (LKB1) affects blood vessel formation in the lungs of preterm infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
-
A new approach to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants
A new treatment strategy aimed at improving lung development in premature babies at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
-
L-Citrulline for BPD-related Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Babies
A first-in-human study will test safe and effective doses of L-citrulline given by mouth to stability-preterm infants at risk for lung blood pressure problems.
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.