UTHSCT Scientist Awarded Grant

TYLER — A biomedical researcher at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler has been awarded a $377,500 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how and why the lung scars. Hua Tang, Ph.D., will use the two-year grant to study a specific protein � protein kinase D (PKD) � and its role in lung scarring. PKD appears to direct the lung cells to form scars, but it�s unclear how it does so.
According to a UTHSCT news release, his research could lead to new ways to effectively treat lung scarring, a chronic and progressive disease that kills about 40,000 Americans each year, according to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

�It is a rare disease, but very dangerous. Only 20 percent of those diagnosed with lung scarring are alive five years after diagnosis,� Dr. Tang said. Currently, the only effective treatment for lung scarring is a lung transplant, said UTHSCT Vice President for Research Steven Idell, MD, Ph.D. And lung transplants last on average just five or 10 years. �There�s a need for better treatment. Scientists like Dr. Tang will lead the way in developing these treatments,� Dr. Idell said.