Understanding why too much oxygen hurts the body and how to protect it
Official title: Mechanisms of Oxygen Toxicity
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11396264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at why excess oxygen damages the lungs, brain, and other tissues and explores ways to block that damage to improve outcomes for people with acute lung injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $717,190 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL179702-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396264 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with acute lung injury or related conditions who could benefit from therapies addressing oxygen toxicity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without hyperoxia-related complications or those not yet eligible for future translational trials may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project aims to uncover the molecular reasons hyperoxia harms cells and tissues, focusing on pathways like diphthamide synthesis, purine production, and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. It will test whether these pathways are essential for the reduced cell fitness seen in high-oxygen conditions and explore downstream effects to guide new therapies. Researchers will also look for the earliest vulnerable step (the “weakest link”) in oxygen toxicity to target with treatments. The work uses mouse models and mechanistic studies to guide translation toward patient-centered therapies that could benefit those with acute lung injury and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to targeted therapies that prevent or lessen oxygen-related damage in patients with acute lung injury and other hyperoxia-associated conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has identified key oxygen-toxicity pathways, with potential for translation, though exact targets remain under investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jain, Isha Himani — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Jain, Isha Himani
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.