Andreas Schwingshackl, MD, PhD, division chief and associate professor of pediatrics at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, has been awarded a $3.86 million NIH R01 grant from the NIH to study the role of TREK-1 potassium channels in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a respiratory complication of flu infections, caused by influenza A.
TREK-1 channels are proteins in cell membranes that help regulate the flow of potassium ions, a process that is key for cellular function and response to stress. The five-year project will investigate the mechanisms behind ARDS and identify potential targets for treatment. It will examine the role of TREK-1 potassium channels in the disease to develop new therapies to address future outbreaks and pandemics.
Schwingshackl also leads the NIH-funded Pediatric Critical Care Research Laboratory, which focuses on identifying new therapeutic interventions and molecular targets to treat acute lung injury (ALI) and ARDS.
The award is active, with the study continuing through June 30, 2029.
