Therapies for newborns with alveolar capillary dysplasia

Development of novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia

NIH-funded research University of Arizona · NIH-11220915

Trying genetic and molecular approaches to fix FOXF1-related lung problems in newborns with alveolar capillary dysplasia (ACDMPV).

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Arizona NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tucson, United States)
Project IDNIH-11220915 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers are studying the FOXF1 gene and its regulatory enhancers using samples from human lungs and specially engineered mice to guide new treatments. They use single-cell RNA and ATAC sequencing to pinpoint faulty enhancer elements and employ CRISPR tools to create and study a mouse model of the type 3 enhancer loss seen in many patients. The team will test molecular or gene-based interventions in these preclinical models to see if lung development and blood vessel formation can be restored. If successful in animals, these approaches would inform future therapies for affected newborns.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Newborns diagnosed with ACDMPV, particularly those with FOXF1 mutations or loss of the FEL1 enhancer (type 3), would be the main candidates for future trials or therapies.

Not a fit: Patients whose lung disease is not caused by FOXF1-related defects, or older children and adults without that specific genetic cause, may not benefit from these approaches.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could lead to therapies that prevent fatal respiratory failure in newborns with ACDMPV.

How similar studies have performed: Related preclinical work using mouse models and gene-based methods has shown promise, but there are currently no proven treatments for ACDMPV in humans.

Where this research is happening

Tucson, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.