Understanding how lung fibroblasts drive inflammation after flu infection
Official title: Understanding and targeting fibroblast activation in influenza-triggered lung inflammation and post-viral disease
Funded at University of California Santa Cruz · NIH-11399157 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers aim to understand why some people have long-lasting lung problems after influenza and look for ways to help recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $608,947 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL170121-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399157 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults who have had severe influenza with lung involvement and persistent symptoms after hospital discharge.
✕Less likely to help
People with minor flu infections or those whose symptoms fully resolve quickly may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project studies why inflammation in the lungs can persist even after the flu virus is cleared and how certain lung fibroblasts may keep fighting the disease. It will examine the cells and signals that keep inflammatory immune cells in the lungs and how this affects repair of the air sacs. By identifying key drivers, the study hopes to point to new approaches to reduce PVLD and improve post-infection recovery. The work involves analyses of human-relevant lung biology and may point toward future therapies to speed return to normal breathing after influenza.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to therapies that shorten recovery from severe flu and prevent long-term lung problems.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical and human-related studies have indicated inflammatory lung fibroblasts can influence disease severity and repair, supporting the rationale for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boyd, David Fielding — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Boyd, David Fielding
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Creating vaccines for influenza and other infectious diseases
This study is all about creating new vaccines to help protect people from the flu and other infections, so patients can look forward to better options for staying healthy.
-
Creating vaccines for human trials against influenza and other infectious diseases
This study is working on creating new vaccines to help protect people from flu and other infectious diseases, including those that could be used in harmful situations, so that everyone can have safer and more effective options to stay healthy.
-
Understanding flu and COVID-19 vaccine responses in people and in the lab
Researchers at Stanford explore how flu and COVID-19 vaccines work in people and in lab tests to improve protection for adults.
-
Surveillance and preparedness for flu and other respiratory pathogens in Kenya
A US-based research grant aims to improve how Kenya detects and prepares for influenza and other respiratory diseases to protect people there and global health.
-
Enhanced Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Targeting Shared and Variable Viral Antigens
A new DNA-based influenza vaccine approach aims to provide both precise protection against circulating strains and broader defense against unexpected strains.
-
How the immune system responds to flu shots and flu infection
This project looks at how adults' immune systems react after flu shots or when they catch the flu to find why some people get better protection than others.
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.