Understanding How Small Airways Clear Mucus
Mucociliary innate defense mechanism in the human distal airway
This project aims to uncover how our small airways naturally defend against disease by clearing mucus, focusing on people with lung conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232737 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our lungs have a natural defense system called mucociliary clearance, which helps remove mucus and keep them healthy. This project focuses on the small airways, which are often the first and most severely affected areas in many lung diseases where mucus buildup is a problem. Researchers are using special cell models from human small airways to understand why these areas are particularly vulnerable to mucus obstruction and what mechanisms fail in diseases like muco-obstructive lung diseases. By learning how these tiny airways regulate mucus transport, we hope to gain insights into preventing and treating these conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with muco-obstructive lung diseases or those at risk for conditions involving impaired mucus clearance in the small airways could ultimately benefit from this research.
Not a fit: This basic science project does not involve direct patient treatment or offer immediate benefits to patients at its current stage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this foundational work could lead to a better understanding of lung diseases and potentially new strategies to prevent or treat mucus buildup in the small airways.
How similar studies have performed: This project is a replication study building upon an original study, indicating prior foundational work has been conducted in this area.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Okuda, Kenichi — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Okuda, Kenichi
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.