Understanding changes in lung blood vessels in pulmonary hypertension
The pathophysiology of vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension
This project aims to understand how blood vessels change in the lungs of people with pulmonary hypertension, especially when it's linked to lung scarring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187272 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Pulmonary hypertension is a serious lung condition where blood pressure in the lung arteries becomes too high, often leading to heart failure. This happens because the blood vessels in the lungs change and narrow, a process called vascular remodeling. This research explores how these vessel changes happen, particularly when pulmonary hypertension develops alongside lung scarring diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We are focusing on a specific protein called BMPER, which is important for blood vessel development and may play a role in this condition, hoping to uncover new ways to manage or treat pulmonary hypertension.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant for patients living with pulmonary hypertension, particularly those whose condition is complicated by interstitial lung disease or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Not a fit: Patients without pulmonary hypertension or related lung conditions would not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that specifically target the harmful changes in lung blood vessels for patients with pulmonary hypertension, especially those with underlying lung scarring.
How similar studies have performed: While current treatments for pulmonary hypertension exist, there are no specific therapies that directly address the vascular remodeling seen in ILD-related pulmonary hypertension, making this a novel area of focus.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pi, Xinchun — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Pi, Xinchun
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 below.