Using ultrasound to assess lung diseases like pulmonary edema and fibrosis
Official title: Quantitative Ultrasound for Interstitial Lung Diseases
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-10945844 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how low-quality ultrasound can help check the severity of lung problems like fluid buildup from heart failure and lung scarring, aiming to offer a safer and cheaper way to monitor these conditions without the radiation from X-rays or CT scans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $666,609 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL175513-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10945844 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with pulmonary edema or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with lung diseases that do not involve pulmonary edema or fibrosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to explore the use of low-quality ultrasound (LQUS) technology to evaluate the severity of lung conditions such as pulmonary edema caused by heart failure and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. By developing a method that allows for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of these conditions, the research seeks to provide a safer alternative to traditional imaging techniques like chest X-rays and CT scans, which can expose patients to radiation and are often costly. The study will involve human patients to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, focusing on creating reliable biomarkers for lung health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective monitoring of lung diseases, improving patient care and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of ultrasound in lung assessment is challenging, there is potential for success based on preliminary findings in similar areas, though this specific approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Muller, Marie — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Muller, Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Quantitative Ultrasound for Lung Diseases in People
A new ultrasound approach to measure how bad heart- or fibrosis-related lung problems are, using real-time, noninvasive imaging in people.
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Better Lung Imaging for Conditions like Pulmonary Fibrosis
This work explores a new ultrasound method to better track lung conditions like heart failure-related fluid buildup and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in people.
-
How lung cells and their surroundings drive fibrosis in interstitial lung diseases
A study to understand how airway cells, surrounding tissue, and their environment contribute to progressive scarring in interstitial lung diseases.
-
How lung cell and tissue interactions cause scarring in interstitial lung disease
This project looks at how injured lung lining cells talk with nearby cells and the surrounding tissue to cause scarring in people with interstitial lung disease.
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Investigating personalized treatment options for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis using genetic information.
This study is looking to help people with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) by using their genetic information to find the best treatments for them, so they can get care that’s more personalized and effective.
-
Investigating personalized treatment options for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis using genetic information
This study is looking to make treatments for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) better by using genetic information to find out how different people respond to medications like N-Acetylcysteine, so that doctors can provide more personalized care for patients with lung diseases.
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.