Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded a $1,902,974 Project Grant to The Washington University (Office of Sponsored Research Services) on June 15, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). The research award, with an ultimate completion date of February 28, 2028, supports a mechanistic investigation into the pathways linking acute respiratory triggers to chronic muco-obstructive lung disease. The principal deliverable is the identification and characterization of basal epithelial stem cell (basal-ESC) reprogramming mechanisms in post-viral lung disease and allergen-induced airway inflammation, with specific focus on elucidating the role of monocyte-derived dendritic cell (MODC) niche signaling through GPNMB-CD44 interactions and mitogen-activated protein kinase 13 (MAPK13) propagation in driving persistent airway inflammation and mucus overproduction.

The grant funds translational research efforts aimed at developing targeted therapeutic interventions to correct the identified stem cell reprogramming pathway. Deliverables include experimental data characterizing the molecular mechanisms underlying the muco-obstructive phenotype in both post-viral and allergen-challenge disease models, with the ultimate objective of translating these findings into corrective therapeutic strategies for chronic lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The research will be conducted at The Washington University's St. Louis, Missouri facility.