# Tracking M2-Like Macrophages in Cardiopulmonary Diseases by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

> **NIH NIH K25** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $152,550

## Abstract

Project Summary
I am currently an Instructor in the Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard
Medical School. My long-term career goal is to become an independent investigator in biomarker imaging
development and translation to better understand and diagnose inflammation in cardiopulmonary diseases. I
will perform the proposed study at the Center for Systems Biology at the Simches Research Center (CSB) and
MGH’s Navy Yard campus under the mentorship of Drs. John Chen, Umar Mahmood and Mikael Pittet, who
have complementary expertise in imaging agent development, cardiovascular imaging development and innate
immunology. Drs. Filip Swirski and Guangbin Dong will join on the advisory committee to provide advice and
guidance. In addition to the mentorship and advisory meetings, I plan to deepen and broaden my knowledge
and training in biomedical imaging, immunology and cardiopulmonary pathophysiology through attending
formal courses, workshops and seminars at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard community as well as
attending relevant conferences in the fields. This K25 grant will provide me with the training and experience
necessary to grow into an independent investigator in biomedical imaging research.
Research Summary
Two major activated macrophage phenotypes, classically activated macrophages (M1), which are pro-
inflammatory and bactericidal, and alternatively activated macrophages (M2) which, are anti-inflammatory and
reparative, play critical roles in various diseases including wound healing, myocardial infarction and cancer.
The importance of macrophage phenotypes and function make them an attractive diagnostic and therapeutic
target. However, in vivo detection of these cells remains challenging due to the heterogeneity and complexity
of the macrophage phenotypes. Efficacious and specific in vivo tools are greatly needed. Few imaging
methods have been developed to tackle this issue. Mannose receptors are a well-established marker for M2-
like macrophages, which recognize and bind to terminal mannose, fucose or N-acetylglucosamine on the
surface of pathogenic viruses, bacteria or fungi. We hypothesize that by screening and optimizing mannose-
based ligands targeting the mannose receptor we will identify a highly efficacious magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) probe that can differentiate M2-like macrophages from M1-like macrophages. Therefore, the goals of this
proposal are 1) to develop an MRI probe targeting mannose receptors to detect M2-like macrophages and
validate it in a mouse model of wound healing, and 2) to apply the optimal probe to longitudinally track M2-like
macrophages in mouse models of myocardial infarction and lung carcinoma, with the ultimate goal of
translating this technology for human use in a future study.
!

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10744195
- **Project number:** 5K25HL150305-05
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Cuihua Wang
- **Activity code:** K25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $152,550
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-12-15 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10744195

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10744195, Tracking M2-Like Macrophages in Cardiopulmonary Diseases by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (5K25HL150305-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10744195. Licensed CC0.

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