# Precision MRI with a Novel Protein Contrast Agent for Early Detection and Staging of Lung Fibrosis

> **NIH NIH R41** · INLIGHTA BIOSCIENCES, LLC · 2023 · $298,840

## Abstract

Summary
Lung diseases, such as interstitial lung diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF),
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute viral infection are major leading
causes of death worldwide. The recent increase due to air pollution, tobacco smoking is and use
of E-cigarettes has grown rapidly in the US contributing to a sharp increase in chronic lung
diseases. IPF is characterized by increased extracellular matrix (ECM), including collagen,
within the lung, causing irreversible lung damage. While high-resolution computed tomography
(HRCT) is commonly used to diagnose IPF. This method can produce large variation and error
(up to 50%) and is unable to detect early-stage lung fibrosis. As the presence of symptoms does
not always indicate disease type, diagnosis is usually obtained at a much later stage. Despite
the advantages of MRI, which includes deposition depth penetration, lack of ionizing radiation,
and high resolution, the application of MRI to lung imaging has been very challenging due to
reduced (10x lower) density of the lungs compared to other tissues and limitations from
extensive dipolar interactions with molecular oxygen in the lungs. Therefore, there is a pressing
unmet medical need to develop noninvasive imaging methodologies and contrast agents to
detect early stages of lung fibrosis, and stage fibrosis severity based on progression of IPF.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10760794
- **Project number:** 1R41HL170898-01
- **Recipient organization:** INLIGHTA BIOSCIENCES, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Jenny J. Yang
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $298,840
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-15 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10760794

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10760794, Precision MRI with a Novel Protein Contrast Agent for Early Detection and Staging of Lung Fibrosis (1R41HL170898-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10760794. Licensed CC0.

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