NIH SciBites From Home: Treating Lung Scarring With a Bacterial Weed Whacker

Breathing in smoke and dangerous chemicals can cause damage to the lungs, including a form of lung scarring called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Sanya Mehta, a postbaccalaureate research fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, is helping to develop a therapy for pulmonary fibrosis that works by shifting the balance between friendly and harmful bacteria living in our lungs. One day, her lab’s findings could be used to treat patients with pulmonary fibrosis and possibly to prevent it in people at risk for the disease.

To learn more about the research being done in Sanya’s lab, visit

Interested in finding out for yourself what it’s like to do research at NIH? Check out our training opportunities to learn about the IRP’s programs for students, recent graduates, and postdoctoral fellows:

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