Why lung scarring spreads from the edges in pulmonary fibrosis
Modeling pulmonary fibrosis progression caused by differential mechanical stretch
This project looks at how extra stretching at the edges of the lung may make scarring spread in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158799 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a lab model that stretches real lung tissue slices to mimic the different amounts of stretch between the lung edge and center. They will combine stretched engineered lung slices with injury signals used in animal studies to watch how scarring signals start and move over time. The team will measure tissue mechanics, image structural changes, and test molecular markers to link local stretch to fibrotic activity. By reproducing the edge-to-center pattern seen in people, the model aims to reveal the biomechanical steps that drive fibrosis progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), especially those with early or peripheral-predominant disease, are the population most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated lung conditions or those with very advanced end-stage fibrosis are less likely to see near-term benefit from this basic-mechanism work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal why fibrosis spreads and point to new ways to stop or slow disease progression for people with IPF.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and cell studies have suggested mechanics matter for fibrosis but common mouse models and standard in vitro systems do not replicate the edge-to-center pattern, so the stretched engineered lung slice approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Amherst, United States
- State University of New York at Buffalo — Amherst, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Ruogang — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Ruogang
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 below.