# Core 2: Lung Tissue Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $138,701

## Abstract

Core 002 - Abstract 
 In this revised version we had actualize the role of lung tissue core and the numbers of 
samples collected. This core will be compromise by three centralized subcores, each of which 
is essential to reach the goals of this program application. The Core includes, a bio-bank sub- 
core collecting biological samples from patients and organ donors through the University of 
Pittsburgh, an ex-vivo lung perfusion sub-core, to study lung function, pathology, and 
hemodynamics of lungs maintained under ex-vivo perfusion, and an ex-vivo 3-D human lung 
tissue model sub-core, to generate sections of lung tissue that can be culture for long 
periods of time. All three components are essential for the mechanistic and translational 
research goals of this Program application. 
 The Specific Aims for the Core are: 1. To enrich our current biorepository of lung, skin 
and bone marrow stem cells procured from normal individuals and individuals with SSc. 2. To 
assist program investigators in the design and implementation of experiments using biological 
specimens from the biobank. 
 Research Plan: The bio-bank will provide tissue samples of lung, skin and bone 
marrow stem cells procured from normal individuals and individuals with SSc. We will include 
the collection of lung and skin fibroblasts, bone marrow derived stem cells, endothelial cells, 
and smooth muscle cells, as well as tissue samples for RNA, DNA, protein and histopathology 
analyses. The ex-vivo lung perfusion sub-core will provide a preclinical translational model 
for the test of therapeutic candidates. The ex-vivo 3-D human lung tissue model sub-core 
will provide a collection of pulmonary arteries for biomechanical analyses, and agarose 
embedded tissue for ex-vivo 3D lung organ culture. 
 Significance and synergy: Comparative studies between human and mice of 
responses to systemic inflammation demonstrate marked differences and poor correlations 
between the two species, confirming the difficulties in the use of animal models to mimic 
human diseases. There is a need of more preclinical studies using human specimens to 
answer fundamental questions in complex diseases such as systemic sclerosis. All Research 
Projects will use resources of the lung tissue core to: 1) test mechanistic hypotheses of the 
pathogenesis of SSc, 2) test the efficacy of new therapeutics in established ex vivo lung 
perfusion model and 3-D human lung tissue model, and 3) evaluate molecular mechanisms in 
human biological samples.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10022104
- **Project number:** 5P50AR060780-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Mauricio Rojas
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $138,701
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10022104

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10022104, Core 2: Lung Tissue Core (5P50AR060780-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10022104. Licensed CC0.

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