Peptide Mimics Targeting Scar Tissue in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

James Hagood, MD, University of North Carolina, 2022 Harrington Scholar-Innovator, and Ronit Freeman, PhD, have teamed up to tackle idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a severe lung disease with no effective cure. Their research focuses on Thy-1, a protein critical for lung health, which diminishes in IPF patients. By creating peptide mimics of this protein, they aim to reverse scar tissue accumulation and restore lung function. Supported by Harrington Discovery Institute, their work is progressing from successful animal model tests towards potential clinical trials, offering hope for a groundbreaking therapy in a field with significant unmet needs. Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio aims to accelerate promising discoveries into medicines for unmet needs. Learn more: HarringtonDiscovery.org.