Understanding how SARS-CoV-2 triggers dangerous lung inflammation
Official title: Regulation of Pathologic Inflammasome Responses to SARS-CoV-2
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11400035 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how COVID-19 causes deadly lung inflammation by uncovering how infected airway cells and immune cells communication lead to a harmful inflammatory spike.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | May 23, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $243,748 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AI175479-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400035 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with severe COVID-19 or acute respiratory distress who could benefit from therapies targeting inflammasome-related inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
People with mild COVID-19 or non-inflammatory lung conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Michigan will study how SARS-CoV-2 infection activates the inflammasome and drives excessive production of IL-1β and IL-6 in the lungs. They will use human airway cells and immune cells together to see how cell-to-cell signals worsen inflammation. The work aims to identify the key steps that make these signals worse when the virus is present, especially in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Findings could point to new ways to intervene and reduce lung injury in severe COVID-19 patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to prevent or lessen severe lung inflammation in COVID-19, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: The study builds on existing evidence that inflammasome-driven inflammation contributes to severe COVID-19, with further validation needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barnett, Katherine Camille — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Barnett, Katherine Camille
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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.