Research area: Stem Cell Medicine > Lung Disease

Overview

This study aims to uncover the signals that govern the balance between effective lung repair and maladaptive fibrosis following respiratory viral infections, with the goal of identifying therapeutic targets to improve recovery and prevent long-term pulmonary fibrosis.

Purpose

Recovery from respiratory viral infections requires rebuilding the epithelial barrier and repairing the underlying tissue. However, when this process is disrupted or dysfunctional, it can lead to maladaptive pulmonary fibrosis. Post-acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-associated pulmonary fibrosis emerges immediately after infection and can persist long-term. Currently, the severity of respiratory infection is the strongest predictor of fibrosis development, yet the post-acute consequences and the tipping point between effective and aberrant repair remain poorly understood.

Study details

In this research project, we investigate how epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and local immune cells communicate to coordinate lung repair following acute viral infections. We use human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to create complex, organotypic models. To unravel cellular communication networks during repair and fibrosis our study uses approaches like phosphoproteomics and spatial transcriptomics. Our goal is to identify the key molecular signals that distinguish beneficial repair from maladaptive fibrosis, uncovering potential therapeutic targets to promote healthy recovery.

Funders

Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)

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Dr Rhiannon Werder
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