Understanding early changes that lead to lung scarring
Disease Mechanisms of Early Pulmonary Fibrosis
['FUNDING_P01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · NIH-11193807
This project looks for early biological signs in people related to someone with familial pulmonary fibrosis to help prevent lung scarring before symptoms start.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11193807 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will follow people who are currently without symptoms but who have family members with pulmonary fibrosis. They will collect blood and lung-related samples (for example bronchoalveolar lavage and, when appropriate, tissue biopsies) and record environmental exposure information. The team will analyze genes, RNA, epigenetic marks, metabolism, and exposures to find patterns that appear before lung scarring develops. The goal is to use those patterns to improve risk prediction and identify ways to stop disease before symptoms appear.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are asymptomatic adults who are blood relatives of people with familial pulmonary fibrosis or others judged to be at high genetic risk.
Not a fit: People with advanced, symptomatic pulmonary fibrosis are less likely to receive direct benefit because the program focuses on pre-symptomatic disease mechanisms and prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify people at high risk for pulmonary fibrosis earlier and point to ways to prevent or delay lung scarring.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies have found genetic and blood markers linked to fibrosis risk, but this broad, multi-omics approach in pre-symptomatic relatives is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR — ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BLACKWELL, TIMOTHY S. — UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- Study coordinator: BLACKWELL, TIMOTHY S.
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.