A team of researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine was recently granted $865,282 from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to investigate a stem cell therapy for pulmonary fibrosis. CIRM awarded two grants worth a total of…
UC San Diego Research Team Awarded Funds to Investigate Stem Cell-based Therapy for Pulmonary Fibrosis
Following my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis in early 2016, I was told that the doctors couldn’t predict how fast or slow my disease would progress. Since it was so “rare” that I had IPF before my 30th birthday, my medical teams were pretty transparent about not…
An immune pathway that includes a molecule known as IL-33 and its receptor, ST2, may be key in the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), according to new research in mice. The study, “The IL-33 Receptor ST2 Regulates Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis to Bleomycin,” was published…
Just like you, I’ve had my share of good experiences with doctors, and frustrating ones, too. I wish I could share some tips with doctors to help me cope with this awful disease. I’ve asked fellow patients I know online for their input, and they had a lot…
A new mobile app called PF Health has been launched to help patients with pulmonary fibrosis track their symptoms and share that information with their healthcare providers. The PF Health app resulted from collaborative work of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) and monARC Bionetworks, and aims to empower…
I am currently attending a professional development conference for work that is inspiring, enriching, and exhausting! Since my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in early 2016, it’s no secret that I no longer have the stamina to do all the things I once could. This includes…
Targeting a key protein of the innate immune system called TLR4 could be a new way of treating people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and other fibrotic disorders, according to a Northwestern University study. The study, “TLR4-dependent fibroblast activation drives persistent organ fibrosis in skin and lung,” was published…
Blade Therapeutics has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate BLD-2660, its lead therapy candidate for the treatment of fibrosis, the company recently announced. The randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation Phase 1 trial (NCT03559166) is enrolling an estimated 88 healthy volunteers to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics — how…
Pliant Therapeutics raised $62 million in a second round of financing that will be used to support the development of the company’s lead product candidates in fibrotic diseases. The funding is expected to advance therapies to early-stage clinical trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and primary sclerosing cholangitis…
Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 40th anniversary. I was so grateful to celebrate this amazing day with this wonderful man! Four years ago, I was told I had a few months to a year to live and I was offered no treatment options. Being given…
