Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC | Virginia Tech Health & Biomedical Research

_{April 30, 2026}

Blocking two proteins reverses lung scarring in preclinical study

A Virginia Tech team has identified a promising new therapeutic strategy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), showing that blocking two proteins can halt and even reverse lung scarring in preclinical models.

A new study in the journal Theranostics, led by senior author Yassine Sassi, assistant professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, found that simultaneously inhibiting two proteins — ID1 and ID3 — significantly reduced lung scarring and improved lung function across multiple experimental systems.

IPF is a progressive disease in which scar tissue builds up in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. The disease affects an estimated 100,000 people in the United States, with about 30,000 to 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. Existing therapies can slow disease progression but do not stop or reverse it, and most patients survive only three to five years after diagnosis.

“This work identifies ID1 and ID3 as important drivers of fibrosis and provides a strong foundation for developing new therapeutic approaches, including drug development and targeted delivery strategies,” said Sassi, a faculty member at institute.