University of Arizona Team Receives $4.4M Grant to Test Compounds Targeting IPF
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A research team from the University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine – Tucson was given a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study two experimental treatments believed to delay or possibly reverse excessive scar tissue formation in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
The money will be used to investigate whether the compounds are safe and effective when administered orally or inhaled.
“Before we give these drug candidates to human patients in clinical trials, we have to perform rigorous, controlled testing to evaluate their safety and efficacy,” Louise Hecker, PhD, the grant recipient and a UA associate professor of medicine, said in a University of Arizona news release.
The two experimental treatments to be tested were designed to specifically target a protein, the Nox4 enzyme. Previous studies conducted by Hecker and colleagues found that the Nox4 protein is present in significantly higher levels in the lungs of patients with IPF.
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The researchers hypothesized that the overactivation of this enzyme may be behind the excessive scar tissue formation, and thus targeting this enzyme could lead to the reduction of scar tissue.
This hypothesis is supported by an animal study also developed by Hecker showing that scar tissue growth can be reversed in a mouse model of IPF when Nox4 is blocked.
“Nox4 clearly plays a critical role in mediating scar tissue formation,” Hecker said. “It is an important and exciting target for us to pursue for a cure.”
UA President Robert C. Robbins, MD, said IPF is a “deadly disease with a very grim prognosis. Dr. Hecker has the groundwork for a potential cure that could save lives. I look forward to seeing what she discovers with the support from this grant.”
In 2016, Hecker received a $300,000 pilot grant from the UA BIO5 Institute, a research institute based at the University of Arizona, to support her research. The funds helped her team identify the two compounds that will now be tested in preclinical studies.
Hecker also received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help understand why IPF primarily affects older people.
P.T. Ummer Koya
Good to read and understand. Expect more which tells the story of success in the research of PULMONARY Fibrosis.
Dale Nelson
Would like to be a patient in this study.
JUDY WELLS
Veny encouaging
Leann
This sounds wonderful and hopeful.would like to be a patient in this study.
Jeff Root
Would like to be part
Of these clinical trials.
Andrea becker
My mom too. Any response?
Jaquita Magginson
Great to hear?
B Culverwell
Dale I'm with you. Best news ever. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
John Hamlin
Would like to volunteer
Denise Quieros
I'm in the UK .... Wishing I could also be part of these trials .
I'm a younger looking modern outlook woman .....Who is now
Understanding the changes I feel almost every day....Pain is
a problem....Glad there is active research going on.
Whoop for early results!!!
Jopf
I join all those saying please include me!! To heck with blind trials, we sufferers don't have long, so based on the positive results so far expand to include willing volunteers. I know not allowable by law!
Donna Malland
This is very interesting and encouraging! Please include me in the trials.
Sean Daly
I would like to be considered When Trials are conducted. Thank you