# Respiratory Viral Determinants of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $184,873

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This K23 proposal describes a five-year research training program that will foster Dr. Fisher’s transition into an
independent clinically-oriented academic researcher, focusing on viral infections in transplant recipients. Her
long-term objective is to improve outcomes following transplantation by performing translational research to
define the role of viral infections in chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). This award will provide the
support needed to improve her knowledge in three major areas: 1) prospective cohort design and enrollment,
2) pulmonary transplant, and 3) statistical analysis and modeling of complex data sets. This proposal builds
upon her preliminary research and her strong foundation in infectious diseases, epidemiology, and
biostatistics. She has assembled an outstanding group of mentors who are dedicated to ensuring the success
of her research and her career development, and who have expertise in virology, transplant, pulmonology,
immunology, epidemiology, and biostatistics.
Dr. Fisher’s goal in this proposal is to define how specific viral and host characteristics, and early pulmonary
functional changes, associate with CLAD development in LTR with respiratory virus infection (RVI). In the first
aim, Dr. Fisher will prospectively enroll LTR with symptomatic RVI and collect frequent longitudinal nasal
swabs, using an innovative patient self-collection methodology, and home spirometry. She will: 1) characterize
the detailed virologic course of symptomatic RVI in LTR, including virus type, peak viral load, duration of
shedding, rate of viral load change, and area under the curve, 2) Define the course of early lung function
changes after RVI, as evidenced by the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and 3) analyze the
association between virologic characteristics and early decline in FEV1. In her second aim, she will use the
detailed virologic information from her first aim to identify specific viral and host determinants of CLAD in LTR
with symptomatic RVI. In her third aim, she will analyze the detailed spirometry data to assess how the degree
and magnitude of early decline in FEV1 after RVI is related to subsequent development of CLAD.
Through accomplishing the aims in this proposal, Dr. Fisher will identify virologic, host, and early FEV1
characteristics associated with RVI that can predict subsequent development of CLAD. She will also refine a
self-collection method that can be used for future longitudinal RVI studies and provide critical background data
on the virologic course of RVI that can be used for the rational design of future interventional trials of novel
antiviral agents. Ultimately, this proposal will allow Dr. Fisher to hone her skills as a clinical investigator and
transition into an independent researcher who will advance our understanding of viral infections in transplant
recipients to improve patient outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985634
- **Project number:** 5K23HL143050-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Cynthia E Fisher
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $184,873
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985634

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985634, Respiratory Viral Determinants of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (5K23HL143050-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985634. Licensed CC0.

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