Research Interests

The Basic Science Section has a faculty whose diverse research interests in respiratory biology include:

 

Free Radical Biology Group

Russell Bowler, MD, PhD - Studies the use of genomics and proteomics in the development of oxidative stress biomarkers in lung disease

Brian J. Day, PhD - Drug development of catalytic antioxidant porphyrins and the role of thiols in cellular redox regulated processes

Elizabeth Regan, MD, PhD - Role of antioxidant defenses in joint disease

 

Cell Signaling Group

Rafuel Alam, MD, PhD - Signaling mechanism of activation of T cells and eosinophils, and the mechanism of airway inflammation in asthma

Hong Wei Chu, MD - TLR signaling in asthma, COPD, and bacterial infection

Greg Downey, MD - Role of tyrosine phosphatases in regulation of leukocyte activation

James Finigan, MD - Researches how cells of the lung adhere and how cell-cell junctions are altered during lung injury and repair

Fabienne Gally, PhD - Focuses research on revealing the mechanisms underlying respiratory bacterial (e.g., Mycoplasma pneumoniae) infections in asthma

Anthony Gerber MD, PhD - Studies the basic molecular mechanisms whereby glucocorticoid signaling regulates a network of gene expression changes in airway cells and how components of this network alter the physiology and pathophysiology of the lung

Magdalena Gorska, PhD - Studies how T cell receptor and cytokine receptors (e.g. IL-5R) activate Src tyrosine kinases

Hua Huang, MD PhD - Cytokine signaling pathways in the lung

William Janssen, MD - Role of stem cells and progenitor cells in response to lung injury and apoptotic cell clearance

Jeffrey Kern, MD - Dr. Kern’s research interests are in cell signaling, especially focused around the EGFR family of membrane bound receptor tyrosine kinases. Ongoing projects in the lab include the role of this family in transformation as well as its role in recovery and repair of the epithelium after injury, role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in modifying these responses.

Kenneth Malcolm, PhD - Studies the role of viral infections such as influenza to impact the pathogenesis of lung injury

Robert Mason, MD - Growth factor cell signaling pathways in cell injury and death

Jerry Nick, MD - Kinase cell signaling pathways in cystic fibrosis

Dennis Voelker, PhD - Lipid cell signaling pathways

 

Acquired and Innate Immunity Group

Rafeul Alam, MD, PhD - Role of cytokines and signaling molecules in host defense

Hong Wei Chu, MD - Regulation of host defense (innate immunity) by allergic inflammation and cigarette smoke exposure

Brian J. Day, PhD - Role of glutathione and thiocyanate in lung host defense

Greg Downey, MD - Innate immune responses in lung epithelial cells

Fabienne Gally, PhD - Focuses research on revealing the mechanisms underlying respiratory bacterial (e.g., Mycoplasma pneumoniae) infections in asthma

Hua Huang, MD, PhD - T helper cell and allergic effector cell differentiation in animal models of asthma

William Janssen, MD - Role of stem cells and progenitor cells in response to lung injury and apoptotic cell clearance

Lisa Maier, MD, MPH - Immunology of granulomatous lung diseases

Kenneth Malcolm, PhD - Studies the role of viral infections such as influenza to impact the pathogenesis of lung injury

Robert Mason, MD - Viral infections and lung surfactant proteins

Jerry Nick, MD - Role of altered host defense in cystic fibrosis

Dennis Voelker, PhD - Role of phosphatidyl glycerol and surfactant proteins in lung infections

 

Environmental and Occupational Lung Group

Russell Bowler, MD, PhD - Role of oxidative stress associated with environmental tobacco smoke exposures

Brian J. Day, PhD - Role of oxidative stress in beryllium lung disease and thiol adaptive responses to environmental tobacco smoke

Greg Downey, MD - Role of environmental tobacco smoke in regulation of epithelial cell function

James Finigan, MD - Investigates how cigarette smoke alters epithelial cell function.

Lisa Maier, MD, MSPH - Risk factors associated with sensitization and chronic beryllium disease, including beryllium exposure and gene by environment interactions

Robert Mason, MD - Ozone-induced epithelial cell injury and apoptosis

Cecile Rose, MD, MSPH - Risk factors, mechanisms, and prevention of exposure-related granulomatous lung diseases, airway diseases, and pneumoconioses

 

Respiratory Biodefense Group

Brian J. Day, PhD - Development of countermeasures against chemical warfare agent, sulfur mustard

Robert Mason, MD - Virus-induced alveolar and epithelial cell injury and repair

 

Genetics Group

Russell Bowler, MD, PhD - Genetic associations for COPD

Lisa Maier, MD, MSPH - Genetic associations for granulomatous lung diseases, including sarcoidosis and chronic beryllium disease

Cecile Rose, MD, MSPH - Genetic associations for hypersensitivity pneumonitis and pneumoconiosis