Understanding faulty lung repair in pulmonary fibrosis
Targeting dysfunctional epithelial repair in pulmonary fibrosis
This research aims to understand why the lung's natural repair process sometimes fails in pulmonary fibrosis, causing ongoing damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192368 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that damage to the lung's lining (epithelium) is a key part of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), but we don't fully understand why some repair processes work well and others lead to more scarring. Recent findings suggest that certain "transitional" cells, which are abnormal, stay in the lungs of people with IPF and contribute to this faulty repair after repeated injury. This project focuses on identifying the specific signals and pathways that cause these abnormal cells to develop and lead to persistent lung scarring. By comparing different models of lung injury, we hope to uncover how these problematic cell states emerge and what makes them similar to what is seen in human IPF.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to help those with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in the future by uncovering disease mechanisms.
Not a fit: Patients without pulmonary fibrosis or related lung scarring conditions would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new ways to stop or reverse the scarring in pulmonary fibrosis by targeting the underlying mechanisms of dysfunctional lung repair.
How similar studies have performed: This research builds on emerging data about aberrant epithelial cell states in IPF, exploring new mechanisms that are not yet fully understood.
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.