Understanding how a specific type of immune cell drives lung scarring and how to target it
Official title: Unveiling the Mechanistic Role of Macrophages and Therapeutic Targeting in Lung Fibrosis
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11465744 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research grant aims to learn exactly how a type of lung macrophage contributes to pulmonary fibrosis and whether targeting a receptor called TREM2 could slow or stop disease progression in people with IPF.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 24, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $740,400 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL183230-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11465744 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or lung fibrosis conditions could potentially benefit from future therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
The research is preclinical and does not involve direct patient participation at this stage, so immediate benefit to individual patients is not guaranteed.
What this research studies
This project focuses on alveolar macrophages that come from monocytes and their role in lung scarring. It will explore how these Mo-AMs are regulated during fibrosis and whether altering their behavior can change disease outcomes. The study will examine TREM2, a molecule linked to immune cell function, and how its activation in Mo-AMs affects fibrosis, with the goal of identifying potential therapeutic targets. Animal models and molecular analyses will be used to understand mechanisms that could translate to human therapies for lung fibrosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new treatments that slow or halt lung scarring and improve breathing for patients with IPF.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have shown that targeting immune cell pathways can influence fibrosis in animal models, supporting the potential for translation to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Gang — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Liu, Gang
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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.