Understanding airway stem cell issues in lung transplant patients
Official title: Pathogenesis of Airway Stem Cell Abnormalities in Obliterative Bronchiolitis
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11067152 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain stem cells in the airways behave in people who have had a lung transplant and are dealing with a condition called obliterative bronchiolitis, with the goal of finding ways to help improve lung function and health for transplant patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2019 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $683,512 |
| NIH project number | 2R01HL136370-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067152 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have received a lung transplant and are experiencing or at risk for obliterative bronchiolitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone lung transplantation or those with other unrelated respiratory conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the abnormalities of airway stem cells in patients who have undergone lung transplantation, particularly focusing on the condition known as obliterative bronchiolitis (OB). By using a novel animal model that mimics human lung transplant conditions, the study aims to identify the depletion of specific stem cells and their impact on airway repair and function. The researchers will analyze the cellular changes in the airway epithelium and explore the mechanisms that lead to chronic lung allograft dysfunction, which significantly affects patient survival. The findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for lung transplant recipients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for lung transplant patients, potentially increasing their survival rates and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding stem cell roles in lung diseases, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parekh, Kalpaj Rajnikant — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Parekh, Kalpaj Rajnikant
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Airway basal cell stress and environmentally caused bronchiolitis obliterans
Researchers are studying how certain inhaled chemicals may damage the airway’s foundational cells and lead to a serious lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans.
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Bronchiolitis Obliterans: turning biology insights into potential therapy
A potential new therapy for a serious lung disease that can occur after stem cell transplant is being tested to see if it can reverse damage and improve breathing.
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Interrupting harmful lung cell interactions to reduce fluid leakage in critically ill children with bronchiolitis
AYA pediatric patients with bronchiolitis who are severely ill may benefit from a study that targets lung cell signals to lessen fluid leak and improve breathing.
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Airway stem cell problems in transplant-related obliterative bronchiolitis
This work looks at how airway stem cells change after lung transplant to help people who develop obliterative bronchiolitis.
-
Lymphatic changes after lung transplant and risk of bronchiolitis obliterans
Researchers are looking at how damage or repair of the lung's lymphatic vessels after transplant affects the chance of developing bronchiolitis obliterans in people who receive lung transplants.
-
How respiratory viruses affect long-term lung damage after donor stem cell transplant
Following people who had donor stem cell transplants to see how common respiratory viruses relate to long-term lung damage called bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.
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.