Using engineered macrophages to treat acute lung injury
Official title: Combinatorial cytokine-coated macrophages for targeted immunomodulation in acute lung injury
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10894281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment that aims to help people with severe lung inflammation, like those with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome, by changing how certain immune cells work to reduce inflammation and improve breathing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $232,866 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HL168650-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10894281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults experiencing acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome, particularly those with severe inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic lung conditions or those not experiencing acute inflammatory responses may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new treatment for acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) by reprogramming macrophages, which are immune cells that play a key role in inflammation. The approach involves creating a specialized pharmacotherapy that targets and modifies these macrophages to reduce inflammation and improve lung function. By addressing the underlying causes of ALI/ARDS, this innovative treatment aims to provide a more effective solution than current supportive care methods. Patients with severe lung inflammation due to infections or trauma may benefit from this targeted immunomodulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a groundbreaking treatment that significantly improves recovery outcomes for patients suffering from acute lung injury.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various approaches to treating ALI/ARDS, this specific method of using engineered macrophages for targeted immunomodulation is novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Zongmin — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Zongmin
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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.