Understanding Lung Responses to Viral Infections
Alveolar responses to viral lung infection
This research explores how viral lung infections, like the flu, make people more vulnerable to severe bacterial infections in their lungs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145628 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When a severe viral lung infection, such as the flu, occurs, about one-third of patients also get a secondary bacterial infection like Staphylococcus aureus, which can be very dangerous. This project aims to understand why the lungs' tiny air sacs, called alveoli, become more susceptible to these secondary bacterial infections, which often lead to a life-threatening condition called Acute Lung Injury (ALI). Researchers believe that viral infections might stop the alveoli from clearing out inhaled particles, allowing bacteria and their toxins to build up and damage the lung's protective barriers. They are looking into how the flu virus might affect a specific protein, CFTR, which is important for keeping the alveoli healthy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms in patients experiencing severe viral and bacterial lung coinfections, including both children and adults.
Not a fit: Patients without severe viral or bacterial lung infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat severe lung damage and death caused by combined viral and bacterial infections.
How similar studies have performed: While the problem of viral-bacterial coinfection is known, this specific mechanism involving alveolar fluid secretion and CFTR inactivation is a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hook, Jaime Lynn — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Hook, Jaime Lynn
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.