New Funding for DZL Researcher: Investigating Vascular Changes in COPD

Dr. Cheng-Yu Wu, a DZL researcher at the Justus Liebig University Gießen (DZL site UGMLC), has received a research grant of €181,740 for two years (2025–2027) from the University Hospital Gießen and Marburg (UKGM).

Changes in the blood vessels of the lungs are commonly observed in chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – one of the most common causes of death worldwide. COPD, characterized by airway narrowing, is primarily caused by smoking but can also be influenced by air pollution and genetic factors. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COPD is the third leading cause of death globally and contributes to a significant disease burden.

A key driver of vascular changes in COPD is increased oxidative stress. This leads to complex interactions between blood vessels and the surrounding alveolar tissue, promoting inflammation and accelerating lung aging. In his project, Dr. Cheng-Yu Wu tackles oxidative stress by either reducing its sources or strengthening the antioxidant defense mechanisms in pulmonary vascular cells. To this end, he utilizes preclinical models of increasing complexity, comprehensive multi-omics approaches, and detailed analysis of human biological samples. The goal is to understand how these vascular cells communicate with the respiratory surface of the lung under certain conditions.

By uncovering the molecular signaling pathways between blood vessels and the respiratory surface, Dr. Wu aims to develop new therapeutic strategies to specifically promote lung health and improve the treatment of chronic lung diseases in the future.

The DZL congratulates Dr. Wu on this successful grant award and wishes him great success in implementing his innovative research project!