Project Grant R03HL183266

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Pennsylvania State University, operating as Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, received a $105,705 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) effective April 1, 2026, with completion scheduled for December 31, 2027. The award supports fundamental biomedical research investigating the molecular mechanisms by which surfactant protein-A (SP-A) and its genetic variants regulate innate immune responses in the lung microenvironment. The research aims to elucidate the role of SP-A variants in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pathogenesis, with particular focus on understanding why certain genetic variants (specifically the SFTPA2-1A0 variant) are associated with increased disease severity in children and how toll-like receptor signaling modulation contributes to viral clearance or persistent inflammation.

The research deliverables include mechanistic studies utilizing neonatal animal models and epithelial cell cultures to characterize how SP-A variants affect antiviral immune responses and RSV binding affinity. Through single-cell analysis and advanced immunological techniques, the project will determine whether exogenous SP-A can restore impaired toll-like receptor pathway modulation in carriers of the 1A0 variant. These findings are intended to generate foundational knowledge supporting the eventual development of novel therapeutic interventions for acute and chronic lung diseases characterized by dysregulated innate immunity. The research will be conducted at the Hershey, Pennsylvania facility location.