Bench RESEARCH
Brantly Lab
Dr. Brantly’s laboratory specializes in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which manifests mainly as lung and liver injury. Studies are centralized around characterization of alveolar macrophage function, hepatic fibrosis, gastrointestinal microbiota, and extracellular vesicles. We are interested in understanding how misfolded alpha-1 protein affects cellular signaling and degradation machinery.
Bryant Lab
Dr. Bryant’s lab is interested in understanding the impact that immune cells play in patients with pulmonary hypertension. We primarily use pre-clinical models of high blood pressure in the lungs to determine how inflammation contributes to changes in pulmonary vasculature. Our hope is that this work will yield novel targets for drug therapies, especially in those patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic lung disease such as interstitial lung disease.
Jin Lab
Dr. Jin’s lab has a keen interest in understanding the in vivo mechanism of lung mucosal tolerance and developing new therapeutics for chronic lung diseases, e.g asthma and COPD that are the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. Dr. Jin’s lab is also interested in understanding how common human STING genetic variants influence human health and medicine.
Mehrad Lab
Dr. Mehrad’s lab specializes in Interstitial lung diseases; a heterogeneous group of lung diseases defined by chronic inflammation and fibrosis. The lab has 3 main areas of focus 1) Fibrocytes 2) Host defense mechanisms in invasive aspergillosis (3) Experimental therapy for Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Moser Lab
Dr. Moser’s lab studies how antibody responses are triggered. Antibodies comprise a powerful arm of the immune system. Antibodies protect from infection, but can also cause autoimmune disease and transplant rejection. Before becoming antibody-secreting cells, activated B cells receive and respond to a multitude of cues that instruct the antibody response. Dr. Moser’s lab studies how protein modifications within the B cells shift the antibody program to induce protective or pathologic antibodies. This research will help design therapies to better elicit protective antibodies and inhibit disease-causing antibodies.
Scindia Lab
Dr. Scindia’s lab specializes in investigating the mechanisms by which dysregulation of iron metabolism shapes inflammation, tissue injury and progression to organ failure. Dr. Scindia’s lab strives to identify novel targets for intervention to treat pathologies still managed mainly by fluid management (Sepsis) and traditional immunosuppression (Lupus).
Clinical Research
Participating in Research
Our division engages in both interventional and observational studies. Each clinical trial has its own set of inclusion/exclusion criteria for recruitment.
Clinical Research Focus Areas
AATD Studies
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
AATD is a genetic disease that can affect the liver or lungs. The alpha-1 protein is designed to protect tissues in the body from being attacked by its own enzymes.
COPD Studies
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. This disease is characterized by increasing breathlessness.
CF Studies
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that affects the lung, digestive system, sweat glands, & male fertility. Because CF is genetic, clinical research is the only way to develop better treatments and, hopefully, a cure for CF in the near future.
IPF Studies
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) results in scarring of the lungs. The cause of the scarring (fibrosis) is not known, and the damage makes it difficult for the patient to take in oxygen.
PAH Studies
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension affects people of all ages and races. There are several conditions that lead to pulmonary hypertension and there are many different types of the disease.
Research Resources
Research Facilities
Pulmonary division Research Laboratories have over 10,000 sq.ft. of research space, both at the VA Hospital and at other university facilities. They are equipped with state-of-the-art equipments, including computers and confocal microscopy.