Understanding lung development in babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Modeling fetal lung development in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

NIH-funded research Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11169895

This work aims to uncover why the lungs of babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia do not develop properly.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionJohns Hopkins University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project IDNIH-11169895 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect where organs from the abdomen move into the chest, preventing the lungs from growing as they should. Despite advanced medical care, many babies with severe CDH still face significant challenges, and we don't fully understand why their lungs are so underdeveloped. This project will create models to explore the basic biological signals that guide lung growth and how they are disrupted in CDH. By focusing on specific pathways like YAP/TAZ and FGF10, we hope to learn more about the underlying causes of poor lung development.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research focuses on understanding the disease mechanisms and is not directly recruiting patients for participation.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not receive benefit from this basic science project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to improve lung development and outcomes for babies born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific mechanisms of YAP/TAZ and FGF10 in CDH lung hypoplasia are still being explored, these pathways are known to be important in general lung development.

Where this research is happening

Baltimore, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.