NIH R01 · 2025
Inflammatory Injury Caused by Silica Exposure
Project Summary More than 2 million people in the US are exposed to respirable crystalline silica at work. Inhalation of dust containing respirable crystalline silica causes silicosis, which is characterized by chronic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. Silica exposure also increases the risk of developing autoimmune diseases and cancer. Silicosis patients have a median survival of 6 years after diagnosis. The pathophysiology of silicosis has not been fully understood. Currently, there is no effective treatment against this devastating disease. It has been reported that the dysregulation of alveolar macrophages plays an important role in the pathogenesis of silicosis. The deposition of…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.