Utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells to study the role of alveolar type 2 cell dysfunction in pulmonary fibrosis

Summary

This 5-year career development training program aims to develop a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model to study alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cell dysfunction in pulmonary fibrosis.

What they want

The project will utilize a novel human patient-specific iPSC in vitro epithelial-mesenchymal recombinant model system to study AT2 cell dysfunction and its downstream consequences in eliciting a fibrotic cascade. It will test the hypothesis that AT2 cell-intrinsic perturbations (proteostasis defects, metabolic reprogramming) lead to impaired AT2-to-AT1 cell differentiation, inflammatory activation, and fibrogenic mesenchymal activation. The research also seeks to identify druggable pathways for novel pulmonary fibrosis therapies by restoring AT2 cell proteostasis and mitochondrial function. Mechanisms identified in the iPSC model will be validated in vivo in SftpcI73T mutant mice.

Deliverables

Patient-specific iPSC model system for pulmonary fibrosis
Understanding of mechanisms by which AT2 cell dysfunction leads to pulmonary fibrosis
Identification of druggable pathways for novel PF therapies
Mentored research and didactic coursework completion
Presentations at meetings
Preparation of manuscripts
Future R01 application

Technical requirements

Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model system
In vitro human epithelial-mesenchymal recombinant model system
In vivo SftpcI73T mutant mice model

Key personnel

Dr. Alysandratos (Candidate)
Dr. Darrell Kotton (Mentor)
Scientific advisory members

Market context

inferred from NAICS

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services

NAICS 541714

US market size: $2.0T
Typical award: $25K – $50M

Typical buyers

All federal civilianDoDStates

Commonly required

8(a)WOSBSDVOSBPE/PMP

Sector-level estimate — full code lookup not yet in catalog.