# Foundational Mapping of the Neural Circuits that Control Intrinsic Lung Function

> **NIH NIH OT2** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $730,163

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 The lung is a richly innervated organ. Strong evidence, including recent findings from us, demonstrates that
neuronal control plays central roles in basic lung response to the environment, including immune activity, as
well as airway and vascular smooth muscle tone which impacts air conductance and pulmonary blood
pressure, respectively. However, the full extent of how the nervous system affects lung function remains
unclear, and little is known of the anatomical and molecular features of the neurons that innervate the lung.
Here, we propose to use cutting-edge viral-based circuit tracing, single cell transcriptomic and haploid ES cell-
based genome editing technologies to: 1) label lung-innervating neurons; 2) determine their localization and
projection pattern; 3) generate knockin mouse lines that will lay the foundation for neuromodulation of lung
function. Findings generated in mice will be tested in human biopsy samples to delineate conserved versus
species-specific mechanisms. With the development of wireless, implantable devices, neuromodulatory
therapy is on the horizon. Findings from this study will lay the necessary foundation for precise manipulation of
organ function through the nervous system, and thus closely comply with the mission of the SPARC program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065211
- **Project number:** 3OT2OD023857-01S4
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Xin Sun
- **Activity code:** OT2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $730,163
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-02-01 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065211

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065211, Foundational Mapping of the Neural Circuits that Control Intrinsic Lung Function (3OT2OD023857-01S4). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065211. Licensed CC0.

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