# Role of microRNA molecules in therapeutic response to leukotriene modifying agents in asthma

> **NIH NIH K01** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $105,300

## Abstract

Title: Role of microRNA molecules in therapeutic response to leukotriene modifying agents in asthma.
The Principal Investigator, Dr. Amber Dahlin, Ph.D., MMSc., is committed to becoming an independent
investigator focusing on highly innovative, translational, patient-oriented research in asthma. Her long-term
goal is to identify, develop and implement new knowledge and methods to improve therapeutic outcomes for
reducing the burden of asthma worldwide. The goal of this project is to identify the microRNAs (miRNAs) and
their target genes that contribute to leukotriene modifier response in asthmatics. Although miRNAs are known
to affect immune response pathways related to asthma, few studies to date have examined the role of these
molecules on asthma development, progression and management. miRNAs are yet to be directly implicated in
the clinical response to leukotriene modifiers, or in asthma subtypes including aspirin associated respiratory
disease (AERD), which is characterized by excessive production of leukotrienes. In this revised application, Dr.
Dahlin proposes to identify miRNAs, and their targets, associated with pharmacological and clinical response
to montelukast in a cellular model of leukotriene perturbation using immortalized B cells from asthmatic
patients, in addition to sera and primary B cells from a case-controlled AERD patient cohort, and then integrate
the these data using bioinformatic approaches to construct predictive network models of montelukast response.
Understanding the role of miRNA networks will enhance the pursuit of effective therapeutic outcomes in
asthma treatment and provides a unique opportunity to reduce public health burden. Working closely with her
mentor, Dr. Scott Weiss at Harvard Medical School, while completing these studies, she will also build her
skills as a PI in personalized medicine through taking relevant coursework, attending meetings and
conferences, and meeting with her collaborative clinical research team. Her committed mentors and
collaborators will support her submission of an R01 grant proposal in the final years of this award period. In
September 2014, Dr. Dahlin was promoted to the faculty rank of Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical
School, demonstrating the institution’s commitment to her career development. This NHLBI Mentored
Research Scientist Development Award (K01) will allow Dr. Dahlin to merge a translational epidemiological
approach with network modeling to investigate the relationship between miRNA networks and treatment
response in asthma, with the goal of improving therapeutic outcomes for asthma patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9926305
- **Project number:** 5K01HL130629-05
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Amber Dahlin
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $105,300
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-15 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9926305

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9926305, Role of microRNA molecules in therapeutic response to leukotriene modifying agents in asthma (5K01HL130629-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9926305. Licensed CC0.

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