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Blurring of the Airway-Alveolar Boundary: Dissecting the Mechanism Underlying Bronchiolization

Award Number: F31HL186821
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/15/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/14/2027

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Blurring of the Airway-Alveolar Boundary: Dissecting the Mechanism Underlying Bronchiolization - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Bronchiolization of alveoli – replacement of gas-exchange epithelium by airway-like cells – is the project’s key focus because it cripples pulmonary function in pulmonary fibrosis. The long-term goal is to identify and pharmacologically target stress- and glycosylation-driven pathways that destabilize alveolar identity, thereby advancing therapies that align with NIH’s mission to reduce morbidity from chronic lung disease. Guided by three Specific Aims, the applicant will (1) pinpoint the integrated-stress-response kinase triggering ATF4 activation, (2) determine whether ISR-ATF4 signaling is necessary and sufficient for bronchiolization, and (3) establish how ATF4-induced FUT1-mediated α1,2-fucosylation suppresses BMP4 signaling and shifts airway-alveolar cell competition. The research design combines phospho-proteomics, genetic and small-molecule kinase blockade, conditional gene deletion, lineage-traced organoids, single-cell RNA-sequencing, quantitative histology, and lung-function testing to deliver mechanistic clarity and druggable nodes. The fellowship training plan integrates advanced coursework in single-cell genomics, glycobiology, and organoid engineering with bi-weekly mentor meetings, grant-writing workshops, and LungMAP consortium bootcamps to cultivate technical breadth, analytical rigor, and leadership. The training environment – the UC San Diego Lung Center, epigenomics and imaging cores, glycobiology facility, and multidisciplinary fibrosis network – provides state-of-the-art resources, expert consultation, and a collaborative culture that will accelerate the candidate’s development into an independent investigator.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $43,440 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO	9500 GILMAN DR	LA JOLLA	CA	92093	SAN DIEGO	USA	Lung Diseases Research	000	1	6/23/2026	NEW	$43,440
														Subtotal = $43,440

Grand Total All Awards = $43,440

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Blurring of the Airway-Alveolar Boundary: Dissecting the Mechanism Underlying Bronchiolization

Award Number: F31HL186821

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/15/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/14/2027

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