Summary of Federal Project Grant Award

Brigham & Women's Hospital Inc. received a $170,570 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded April 1, 2026, with completion scheduled for March 31, 2028. The research project, titled "Exploring the Molecular Landscape of Lung Health and Aging Through a Multi-Omics Lens," delivers analytical and research services focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying lung function decline and aging. The principal investigator, Dr. Rinku Sharma, a bioinformatician, will develop and validate longitudinal lung function-based patient clusters (spiroclusters) across two large cohorts with electronic medical records data to identify patient subgroups with distinct disease patterns and investigate associations between these clusters, epigenetic aging, and lung health outcomes.

The funded research will produce three primary deliverables: (1) validated spirocluster models and their associations with epigenetic age acceleration and lung health outcomes; (2) identification of shared and unique molecular signatures between spiroclusters, lung function decline, and epigenetic aging using multi-omics analysis to reveal underlying biological mechanisms; and (3) development of a molecular knowledge graph of lung aging as a comprehensive scientific resource to support biomarker identification, therapeutic target prioritization, and understanding of lung aging mechanisms. The work addresses a critical gap in understanding how inflammation, oxidative stress, microRNAs, and metabolites regulate lung aging and disease progression, with potential clinical applications for risk prediction and treatment development.