Lung Association expands research investment to $8.7 million, making headway on its commitment to double its investment in research
HOUSTON – (November 21, 2019) – Today the American Lung Association announced its new research team, which includes three researchers from University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and one from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
- Jichao Chen, Ph.D., University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Limo Chen, Ph.D., University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Edwin Ostrin, M.D., Ph.D., University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Xiaoyi Yuan, Ph.D., University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
This year, the organization has also increased its research investment to $8.7 million, through awards for both our Airways Clinical Research Center (ACRC) Network and its innovative Awards & Grants program. This announcement comes at an important time, as November is both Lung Cancer Awareness Month and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Awareness Month.
The Awards and Grants Program provides investigators with the funds, at all levels of their career, to conduct novel and promising research to prevent, treat and even cure lung cancer and lung disease. The ACRC is the nation’s largest not-for-profit network of clinical research centers dedicated to asthma and COPD treatment research that promises to have a direct, positive impact on patient care.
Research projects funded by the Lung Association are carefully selected through rigorous scientific review and represent the investigation of a wide range of complex issues to help combat and reduce the suffering and burden of lung disease. Researchers in Chicago received the following awards:
Innovation Award
Dr. Jichao Chen’s research at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, titled “Origin and Function of a Novel Endothelial Population in the Mouse Lung” was given the Innovation Award.
The mammalian gas exchange surface is enveloped by a capillary network, the failure of which is seen in both pediatric and adult lung diseases, such as BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia) and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). This capillary network is commonly believed to be homogeneous; we, however, have obtained evidence for a novel population of endothelial cells in the mouse lung. The proposed study aims to elucidate this novel endothelial population. If successful, it will not only open a new avenue of research on endothelial cell heterogeneity, but also provide new mechanistic understanding of alveologenesis and help combat the associated pulmonary diseases.
Lung Cancer Discovery Award
Dr. Limo Chen’s research at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, titled “CD38 as a Target to Improve the Therapeutic Efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade” was given the Lung Cancer Discovery Award.
Although immunotherapy shows great promise in improving survival for lung cancer patients, resistance to therapy is a barrier in reducing patient deaths. Immunotherapy is the use of medicines to stimulate a person’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively. Some lung cancer immunotherapy targets PD-1 and PD-L1, proteins that are found on some tumor cells and immune cells. Blocking these proteins can help boost the immune response against cancer cells. In mouse lung cancer models, we have seen that the failure of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment is associated with an increase in activity of a protein on the surface of immune cells called CD38. We will study the role of CD38 in resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. The findings can lead to the development of new lung cancer treatment strategies.
Lung Cancer Discovery Award
Dr. Ostrin’s research at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, titled “Enzyme May Play Role in Worsening Immune Function in Lung Cancer” was given the Lung Cancer Discovery Award.
Immune cells can keep a cancer from growing, and evading the immune system is a key step in cancer development. An essential amino acid called tryptophan is needed by immune cells. Depletion of tryptophan or accumulation of its breakdown products can lead to impaired immune cell function, and therefore faster tumor growth and poorer prognosis. Lung cancer cells metabolize tryptophan using an enzyme called kynureninase (KYNU). Lung cancers showing high levels of KYNU have worse outcomes. We will study whether lung cancers showing high levels of KYNU have worse outcomes because the depletion of tryptophan and accumulation of its breakdown products lead to worse immune function. We will also look for a sign of KYNU activation in the blood, which may be a marker for patients with more aggressive cancers. Since we believe these cancers are evading the immune system, our research may lead to therapy to reactivate the immune system that is more effective in these lung cancer patients.
Catalyst Award
Dr. Yuan’s research at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, titled “Role of miR-147 in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome” was given the Catalyst Award.
Approximately 200,000 patients develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) annually in the United States, leading to 75,000 deaths. In ARDS, fluid leaks into the lungs, making breathing difficult or impossible. There are no effective treatment or prevention strategies for this deadly disease. We have found that a group of small gene pieces called microRNAs are crucial molecules in changing the levels of inflammation in lung injury. We will study the role of a microRNA called miR-147 in lung inflammation in ARDS. We will evaluate whether these small genes can be targeted for ARDS treatment safely and efficiently in preclinical studies. Our study will lay the groundwork for novel therapeutic approaches for treating patients with ARDS.
See project overviews of all funded projects at Lung.org/research-team.
For media interested in speaking with an expert about lung health and the Lung Association Research Team, contact James Martinez at James.Martinez@Lung.org or 312-445-2501.