# The gut-lung axis influences the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2022 · $27,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This proposal presents a five-year research career development program focused on gut fungal commensal
ecology, the mycobiome, in the neonatal period to advance mechanistic understanding of the gut-lung axis in
bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This research development plan is designed to provide the candidate, an
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and neonatologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, with the
mentorship, training and research experience required to accelerate his development into an independent
clinician scientist in neonatal mucosal immunology. To achieve the candidate’s long-term goal of leading a
productive translational research program focused on understanding mucosal immunology in BPD and facilitate
his transition to independence, the candidate and his established mentors have devised a comprehensive
development plan based on: 1) intensive, personal mentorship from a team with a proven history of productive
mentoring; 2) in-depth experiential and focused didactic training to advance his understanding of molecular
mycology, gnotobiotics and clinical research methods; and 3) an innovative research plan to produce causal
evidence for gut mycobiome involvement in BPD development. The candidate’s research development plan
outlines a focused path to obtain the knowledge, skills and experience required to accelerate his development
into an independent clinician scientist who will have a lasting impact on neonatal mucosal immunology.
BPD is the most serious pulmonary complication of preterm birth. Treatments to modify developmental risk
factors for BPD are lacking. Neonatal models of the gut-lung axis in other lung diseases, epidemiological studies
linking antibiotic exposure with increased risk of BPD development, and the candidate’s extensive preliminary
studies in mice and preterm newborns strongly suggest the gut mycobiome represents a therapeutic target to
influence BPD development. This proposal builds on the candidate’s prior experience and the expertise of his
mentors to explore the mechanisms of the neonatal gut-lung axis. We will test two hypotheses. 1) Prenatal
antibiotic exposure-induced mycobiome changes drive increased BPD severity by disrupting the gut-lung axis.
2) Colonization with commensal fungi favorably alters the pulmonary mucosal immune response to hyperoxia.
Determining if disruption of intestinal commensal microbial communities contributes to the development of lung
injury in BPD will inform the development of therapeutics for mitigating BPD. These studies are expected to lay
the groundwork translational studies in human preterm newborns.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10559262
- **Project number:** 3K08HL151907-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Kent Avery Willis
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $27,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10559262

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10559262, The gut-lung axis influences the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (3K08HL151907-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10559262. Licensed CC0.

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