This federal Project Grant award, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research (CFDA 93.837) program, supports research to investigate the mechanistic links between hypoxia, lactate production and signaling, and the development of pro-fibrotic phenotypes in lung fibroblasts. The $786,147 award to The Ohio State University, with a project period from February 1, 2025 to November 30, 2028, will examine: 1) how hypoxia regulates lactate generation and shuttling in normal versus fibrotic lung fibroblasts, 2) the direct effects of lactate signaling through the GPR-81 receptor on driving pro-fibrotic fibroblast behaviors, and 3) the potential of targeting lactate-mediated signaling as a therapeutic approach for fibrotic lung diseases. This research aims to enhance the understanding of the role of aberrant lactate metabolism in lung fibrosis and explore new strategies to treat this debilitating condition.