Understanding why some lung repairs go wrong in pulmonary fibrosis
Official title: Targeting dysfunctional epithelial repair in pulmonary fibrosis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11367540 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at why the lungs sometimes repair damage poorly after injury, with a focus on people who have or are at risk for pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| 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 | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $637,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175555-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367540 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with or at risk for acute lung injury or pulmonary fibrosis may benefit from insights into repair processes and potential future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without lung injury or fibrosis are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The project studies how airway cells become abnormal after repeated lung injury and why this leads to persistent scarring in IPF. Researchers will compare different models of lung injury to see which cell states emerge and how they relate to human disease. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing and cell-trace methods to map the origins of these abnormal cells from airway progenitors. The goal is to identify the pathways driving dysfunctional repair so future therapies can prevent or reverse this faulty healing process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform new treatments that promote healthy repair and reduce fibrosis in patients with lung injury.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data show distinct epithelial cell states after repetitive injury that resemble those seen in IPF, suggesting a promising but still exploratory path.
Where this research is happening
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University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blackwell, Timothy S. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Blackwell, Timothy S.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Molecular clues to progressive lung scarring
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Alveolar Cell Dysfunction in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Using SFTPC Mutations to Find New Targets
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Iron and scar-forming cells in the lungs (IPF)
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A patient-friendly look at a project trying to use an existing drug, pyrvinium, as an inhaled treatment option for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
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Screening new compounds to reverse gene signatures in IPF lungs
A researcher hopes to find compounds that reverse harmful gene changes in the lungs of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
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Role of lactate transporters in lung scarring
Aims to see if blocking lactate transporters can slow or stop scar-forming cells from thickening the lungs in people with fibrotic lung disease.
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.