# Role of High Density Lipoproteins in Interstitial Lung Disease

> **NIH NIH K23** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $171,612

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
In this application for a 5-year K23 Career Development Award, I propose mentored research and career
development leading toward a career as an independent clinical and translational investigator in interstitial lung
disease. The goal of this research project is to identify the role of high-density lipoprotein in idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis (IPF), a fatal lung disease that affects 1 out of 200 older adults and has a median survival of 3-5 years
from diagnosis. Currently there is no medical therapy that improves symptoms or reverses fibrosis in IPF patients.
This proposal builds upon my preliminary data showing that high levels of high density cholesterol (HDL-C) are
associated with a reduction in lung injury, inflammation and fibrosis (subclinical ILD) on CT in community-dwelling
adults enrolled in the NHLBI-funded Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. These data are consistent with animal
model data showing that treatment with apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I; the main component of HDL) attenuates lung
fibrosis. Under the mentorship of Dr. David Lederer, I am therefore proposing to examine the associations of
HDL and its main components (ApoA-I, ApoA-II, and paroxonase-1) with clinical outcomes and serum
biomarkers of lung injury, inflammation and remodeling in adults with clinically-diagnosed IPF enrolled in Dr.
Lederer's FAR-ILD study (Families At-Risk for ILD; R01 HL103676-06, scored 5th percentile Dec 2016). I will
also explore the structure (using quantitative proteomics in Dr. Emily Chen's lab) and function (using a
macrophage efflux assay in Dr. Alan Tall's lab) of HDL particles in adults with IPF as well as in two comparator
groups: first-degree family members with subclinical ILD enrolled in the FAR-ILD study, and healthy controls.
With guidance from my mentors, I have crafted a 5-year career development plan that includes training in
lipoprotein biology (co-mentor: Dr. Tall), quantitative proteomics (co-mentor: Dr. Chen), clinical epidemiology
(Dr. Lederer), and biostatistics (Dr. RoyChoudhury). In the last two years of the award I will apply for R01 funding
and transition to independence. The proposed activities will prepare me to conduct patient-oriented and
translational research to discover novel risk factors for IPF and other ILDs. I will also be prepared to design and
conduct clinical trials targeting novel pathways (including those uncovered in this K23 proposal) to prevent and
treat ILD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9844959
- **Project number:** 5K23HL140199-03
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Anna Podolanczuk
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $171,612
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-19 → 2020-07-01

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9844959

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9844959, Role of High Density Lipoproteins in Interstitial Lung Disease (5K23HL140199-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9844959. Licensed CC0.

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