Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded The General Hospital Corporation (Massachusetts General Hospital) a Project Grant of $1.67 million on July 15, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). This award, with an ultimate completion date of March 31, 2030, funds the development of a patient-specific optical biomarker to predict disease progression and mortality risk in early idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The research employs minimally invasive endobronchial polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) imaging technology to assess active fibrogenesis at the microscopic level—the primary pathological driver of IPF progression. The deliverables include advancement of OCT technology beyond conventional capabilities to directly measure collagen deposition and provide prognostic indicators superior to existing pulmonary function tests, computed tomography imaging, and walk tests, thereby improving clinical decision-making for therapeutic interventions and transplant referral timing.

This initiative addresses a critical clinical gap in IPF management: existing diagnostic modalities fail to reliably predict which patients will experience rapid functional decline requiring lung transplantation within three years versus those with long-term stability. By capturing high-resolution imaging across multiple anatomic sites in both lungs during a single bronchoscopic procedure, the research aims to deliver a practical, minimally invasive tool that will reduce transplant waitlist mortality resulting from late referrals and enhance personalized treatment planning for the approximately three million IPF patients worldwide.