Sunad Rangarajan, MD

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Sunad Rangarajan, MD

Research Project:
Discovering Key to Fibroblast Activation in Lung Fibrosis Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Grant Awarded:

Innovation Award

Research Topic:

basic biologic mechanisms

Research Diseases:

interstitial lung disease
pulmonary fibrosis

Healing lung tissue after injury depends upon a steady supply of energy, which comes from mitochondria—parts of cells that turn oxygen and nutrients into fuel. Our research focuses on how disruptions in metabolism and mitochondrial function lead to the activation of cells called fibroblasts, resulting in destructive scarring in lung fibrosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that affects multiple organs. Understanding this process can lead to new treatments that will slow or halt this scarring.

Innovation Award, applied under the Hastings Award

Page last updated: October 30, 2025

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