Understanding early lung scarring in 3-D tissue environments
Official title: Dissecting Lung Spatial-Biological Niches in Early Fibrogenesis
Funded at Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-11580791 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant aims to map where and how early lung scarring starts in three-dimensional tissue, with the goal of guiding better treatments for people with fibrotic lung diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HL181187-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11580791 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or other fibrotic interstitial lung diseases may benefit from advances inspired by this research.
✕Less likely to help
The study is focused on tissue and cellular models; direct clinical benefits may take time to materialize and depend on subsequent trials.
What this research studies
This project focuses on breaking down the earliest scar-forming areas in the lungs and studying how cells and their surroundings interact in spatially distinct regions. It uses advanced 3-D models to preserve tissue structure, so researchers can see how early fibrogenic pockets behave differently from mature scar tissue. By comparing localized microenvironments, the researchers hope to identify tissue-specific drivers of disease progression and test treatments in more realistic settings. The work aims to move beyond bulk analyses and toward spatially resolved insights that could inform targeted therapies for IPF and related ILDs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal precise targets and improve strategies to prevent or slow lung fibrosis, potentially extending patients’ lives and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that spatial context matters in fibrosis; this project seeks to extend those findings with higher-resolution, tissue-like models.
Where this research is happening
-
Carnegie-Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guo, Jason Liwei — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Guo, Jason Liwei
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Digital biomarkers to guide personalized rehab after ACL injury
Aims to use wearable sensors and phone videos to predict early osteoarthritis risk after ACL surgery so rehabilitation can be tailored to each patient.
-
Understanding how iron- and 2-oxoglutarate–dependent enzymes help make halogenated compounds
This NIH grant supports research to uncover how a family of iron enzymes adds chlorine or other halogen atoms to biological molecules, which could lead to new ways to make safer, more effective cancer-fighting drugs.
-
How the brain plans and sequences everyday actions
This project looks at how connected brain areas plan and carry out multi-step movements so findings can help people with movement problems like Parkinson's disease.
-
ALT Cancer Telomere SUMOylation: Targeting a Achilles’ heel in cancer cells
A bright, patient-friendly look at a research project aiming to disrupt a cancer-specific process at the ends of chromosomes to slow or stop tumor growth.
-
Role of the ventral visual pathway in everyday actions
This grant studies how brain regions that process what we see help people perform daily tasks like gripping a cup or using utensils, especially after brain injury.
-
Minimal digital mindfulness dose for improving attention and stress response
A study will test how little digital mindfulness training is needed for adults to gain better attention and lower stress responses.
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.