Understanding lung scarring in children after stem cell transplant
Official title: Investigation of pulmonary fibrosis biology in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant patients
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11166375 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will look at lung and blood samples from children who had allogeneic stem cell transplants to find signs and drivers of lung scarring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $118,720 |
| NIH project number | 5R03HL171423-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166375 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children (including infants and those up to about 11 years old) who have received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant and are undergoing bronchoscopy/BAL or follow-up for lung concerns would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children who have not had a stem cell transplant, adults, or those not undergoing lung sampling/bronchoscopy would not be eligible and would not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would be asked to allow researchers to use fluid collected from your child's lungs (bronchoalveolar lavage) and a paired blood sample taken during standard care to study lung changes after transplant. The team will compare those samples to biopsy results and breathing tests to decide which children already have or are developing pulmonary fibrosis. They will analyze immune and molecular signals in the samples to find markers that predict or drive scarring. Results aim to help pick children who might benefit from new targeted therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help catch lung scarring earlier and guide more personalized treatments to slow or prevent worsening in children after transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Related adult studies and preclinical work have found promising molecular targets for pulmonary fibrosis, but applying these approaches specifically in pediatric transplant patients is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zinter, Matthew Scott — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Zinter, Matthew Scott
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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.