Understanding how airway cells respond to respiratory viruses like COVID-19
Official title: Balancing epithelial cell resistance and resilience to respiratory viral infections
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-10994148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the cells in our airways react when we get respiratory viruses like COVID-19, to find out what makes some people get sicker than others, and it hopes to help create new treatments that work with vaccines to make patients feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $748,218 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL162642-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10994148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals at risk for severe respiratory infections, such as those with obesity or underlying health conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for severe respiratory infections or those without any underlying health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how epithelial cells in the airway respond to respiratory viral infections, particularly focusing on COVID-19. It aims to identify specific factors that may lead to severe disease outcomes and how these factors interact with the body's resilience mechanisms. By utilizing advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, the study seeks to uncover the biological processes that contribute to varying responses to infections, which could inform new therapies. The ultimate goal is to develop host-directed treatments that work alongside vaccines to improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that enhance the body's ability to fight respiratory viral infections and reduce the severity of diseases like COVID-19.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding viral responses and developing therapies, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ordovas-Montanes, Jose Manuel — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ordovas-Montanes, Jose Manuel
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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.