Summary of Federal Project Grant Award

Michigan State University (in partnership with Henry Ford Health as the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences entity) received a $1.56M Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) for research activities spanning from July 1, 2026, through January 31, 2028. The award funds research to investigate the repurposing of vonoprazan as an inhalation therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment, a progressive and currently fatal lung disease with limited effective therapeutic options.

The research deliverables center on elucidating the role of ATP12A, a proton pump regulator, in IPF pathogenesis and validating vonoprazan—a potassium-competitive proton pump blocker—as a therapeutic intervention. The project builds on preliminary findings demonstrating increased ATP12A expression in IPF patient lung tissues and its contribution to airway acidification and profibrotic responses. Research outputs will include mechanistic studies on lung explant tissues, experimental model validation, and scientific findings that advance understanding of how airway pH regulation contributes to lung fibrosis development. These research activities directly support the NHLBI's mission to promote prevention and treatment of lung diseases through competitive, investigator-initiated research.