# Molecular Characterization Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2022 · $322,844

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis are two responses of the lung to chronic cigarette smoke exposure, both of
which may be affected by mitochondrial dysfunction and chitinase pathways. Gene expression profiling has
successfully identified numerous genes involved in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); gene expression studies
in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have had more variable results. The spectrum of cellular
heterogeneity in the lung can now be assayed by single cell RNA sequencing, which has been performed in
human IPF and recently in human COPD lung tissue, serving as a comparison in an IPF study. To support all
three projects, the Molecular Characterization core will use single cell and standard RNA sequencing to test for
differences in cell types, cell subpopulations, and cell-type specific gene expression changes in COPD and IPF
in human samples collected in this PPG and in the mouse models which will be used in Projects 1 and 2. We
will address the following Specific Aims: (1) We will perform single cell RNA-sequencing in lung tissues from
murine models of bleomycin and cigarette smoke exposure to identify cellular changes associated with lung
fibrosis and airspace enlargement, respectively. We will localize cellular expression of relevant genes from all
three projects. (2) We will perform single cell RNA-sequencing in mouse lungs from the cigarette smoke-poly I:C
model to identify cellular changes associated with the combined airspace enlargement and airway fibrosis in this
model. We will localize cellular expression of relevant genes from all three projects. (3) We will perform bulk and
single cell RNA-sequencing on airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages collected at bronchoscopy in
the Clinical Biorepository Core. We will identify cell subpopulations and gene expression differences between
COPD, IPF, and control smokers. This new core will interact closely with Projects 1 and 2 regarding the murine
models and with Project 3 and Core C (Clinical Biorepository) for the human studies. Analysis of the large-scale
data generated in this core will require collaboration with Core B (Respiratory Computational Discovery).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10421336
- **Project number:** 5P01HL114501-07
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** CRAIG P HERSH
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $322,844
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-09-06 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10421336

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10421336, Molecular Characterization Core (5P01HL114501-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10421336. Licensed CC0.

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