Ana Serezani, PhD

Research Project:
Testing Interactions Between Two Cell Types to Learn How Lung Injury and Scarring Begin

Grant Awarded:

Innovation Award

Research Topics:

basic biologic mechanisms
immunology immunotherapy
pathology
risk factors

Research Disease:

pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe disease that causes scar tissue to form in the lungs. Current therapies do not significantly increase patient survival, underscoring the urgent need for innovative strategies to slow or reverse lung fibrosis. IPF is the result of gradual damage to airway epithelial cells found in the lungs. Restoring the ability of these cells to regenerate could help reduce the disease. We will test the interactions between epithelial cells and immune/inflammatory cells (which we have found are abundant in the lungs of IPF patients) to understand how injury and scarring begin. We will utilize our expertise in immunology and lung model engineering to create a human lung model (using epithelial cells and immune cells) to understand how these two cell types communicate and cause damage. This research could lead to novel ways to block progression and treat IPF.

Innovation Award, applied under the Hastings Award

Page last updated: October 29, 2025

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