Use of a Translational Lung on a Chip Model to Catalyze Diagnostic and Therapeutic Advances for Aspiration Pneumonia

At a Glance

This project is seeking to develop a novel diagnostic model for aspiration pneumonia (AP) through identification of a unique molecular signature for lung injury due to aspiration. Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of mortality in older adults and about 15 percent of cases are due to AP, which currently lacks objective diagnostic criteria and methodology for identifying high risk patients. The results of this project could inform identification of effective interventions for AP and promote improved health outcomes for at-risk older adults throughout Wisconsin.

The Challenge

Pneumonia, the leading infectious cause of death in United States hospitals across all age groups, includes aspiration pneumonia, where food, saliva or liquid entering the airway causes infection. Conditions like dementia or muscle weakness can lead to difficulty swallowing, increasing the risk of aspiration. Treatment involves antibiotics and rehabilitative interventions to improve swallowing function. However, there are no clear guidelines or tests to distinguish AP from other causes of pneumonia which leads to inappropriate treatment, including overuse of antibiotics. Developing tests to diagnose AP and identify high-risk patients is crucial for effective treatment. Current diagnostic methods rely on clinical suspicion, lacking rigorous evaluation of swallowing function, compounded by limitations in animal models. A new approach is necessary to enhance diagnosis and treatment of AP.

Project Goals

The overarching goals of this project are to identify noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for AP, develop objective methods to stratify the risk of infection in patients with aspiration and identify the causes of AP to facilitate the development of precision therapies for the infection.