Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have secured $2.8 million in funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to advance research into a novel cell therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The collaborative project aims to suppress inflammation and mitigate lung damage in ARDS patients, addressing a critical unmet need in this severe respiratory condition.
Novel Cell Therapy Platform
Omid Veiseh, professor of bioengineering at Rice and faculty director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, and Ravi Kiran Ghanta, professor of surgery at Baylor, are co-leading the study, titled "Cell Based Immunomodulation to Suppress Lung Inflammation and Promote Repair." They are developing a translational cell therapy platform designed for localized cytokine administration to the lungs. This approach seeks to effectively suppress inflammation and potentially prevent further lung damage in ARDS patients.
Addressing the Challenges of ARDS
ARDS affects over 300,000 Americans each year and is characterized by a high mortality rate of 43%, with inflammation being a significant driver, particularly in the one-third of patients who experience hyperinflammatory ARDS. While cytokines like IL-1Ra and IL-10 have the potential to reduce inflammation and promote lung repair, current delivery methods are hampered by poor biodistribution, toxicity, and immune-related complications.
Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Therapy
The innovative approach developed by Ghanta and Veiseh utilizes engineered retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to produce these beneficial cytokines locally and sustainably within the lungs. These cells are encapsulated in a protective layer, shielding them from immune system attacks. This targeted delivery system allows for precise anti-inflammatory therapy, reducing lung damage and improving ARDS outcomes while minimizing the risks associated with systemic cytokine delivery.
ARDS is a devastating condition that affects hundreds of thousands of Americans every year, with inflammation driving long-term respiratory failure and high mortality rate in many of its patients. Current cytokine therapies face major obstacles in terms of delivery and safety, which is why our team is developing a novel cell therapy platform to safely conduct local delivery to the lungs.Our approach harnesses engineered RPE cells to act as localized cytokine 'factories,' delivering anti-inflammatory agents directly to the lungs. This technology represents a critical advancement in addressing inflammation and lung damage in ARDS, with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes."Ravi Kiran Ghanta, a professor of surgery at Baylor
Future Implications
"We are grateful to the NHLBI for this funding, as it certifies the importance of finding safer ways to treat inflammation and ultimately treat ARDS patients," Veiseh said. "Thanks to the collaborative work between Rice and Baylor, we will be able to ultimately create new cell therapy systems that ameliorate lung health and increase survival rates for people suffering from ARDS. "This study highlights the spirit of collaboration characteristic of the Rice ecosystem and demonstrates the launch pad's commitment to generating groundbreaking technologies that ultimately reach the clinic and make a positive impact on patients' lives."
