Biographical Sketch

Research

The focus of my clinical research is lung transplantation. I am specifically interested in the development, prevention, and management of chronic allograft dysfunction, or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, after lung transplantation. Our group has identified both allo-immune factors such as minimal acute rejection and the de novo development of anti-HLA antibodies, and non-immune variables such as primary graft dysfunction and viral respiratory tract infections as key risk factors for the development of chronic allograft dysfunction. These highlight the complex interactions between the recipient, the allograft, and the environment that result in allograft injury and remodeling leading to physiologic dysfunction. We are currently investigating therapeutic interventions that might uncouple the relationship between these clinical events and chronic allograft dysfunction, including novel immunosuppressive approaches and anti-inflammatory agents.

In addition, we are evaluating the impact of the new lung organ allocation system on the underlying diagnoses coming to transplantation, mortality on the waiting list, and outcomes after transplantation.

Publications

1. Hachem RR, Chakinala MM, Yusen RD, Lynch JP, Aloush AA, Patterson GA, Trulock EP. The predictive value of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome stage 0-p. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004 Feb 15; 169(4): 468-72.

2. Hachem RR, Chakinala MM, Yusen RD, Lynch JP, Aloush AA, Patterson GA, Trulock EP. Abdominal-pelvic lympho-proliferative disease after lung transplantation. Transplantation 2004 Feb 15; 77 (3): 431-7.

3. Hachem RR, Chakinala MM, Yusen RD, Lynch JP, Aloush AA, Patterson GA, Trulock EP. A comparison of basiliximab and anti-thymocyte globulin as induction agents after lung transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant 2005; 24 (9): 1320-1326.

4. Hachem RR, Khalifah AP, Chakinala MM, Yusen RD, Aloush AA, Mohanakumar T, Patterson GA, Trulock EP, Walter MJ. The significance of a single episode of minimal acute rejection after lung transplantation. Transplantation 2005 Nov 27; 80(10): 1406-13.

5. Hachem RR, Yusen RD, Chakinala MM, Aloush AA, Patterson GA, Trulock EP. Thrombotic microangiopathy after lung transplantation. Transplantation 2006 Jan 15; 81(1): 57-63.

6. Daud SA, Yusen RD, Meyers BF, Chakinala MM, Walter MJ, Aloush AA, Patterson GA, Trulock EP, Hachem RR. Impact of immediate primary lung allograft dysfunction on bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007; 175: 507-13

7. Hachem RR, Yusen RD, Chakinala MM, Meyers BF, Lynch JP, Aloush AA, Patterson GA, Trulock EP. A randomized controlled trial of tacrolimus versus cyclosporine after lung transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant 2007; 26: 1012-18.

8. Arcasoy SM, Fisher A, Hachem RR, Scavuzzo M, Ware LB. Report of the ISHLT working group on primary graft dysfunction part V: predictors and outcomes. J Heart Lung Transplant 2005 Oct; 24 (10): 1483-8.

9. Khalifah AP, Hachem RR, Chakinala MM, Schectman KB, Patterson GA, Schuster DP, Mohanakumar T, Trulock EP, Walter MJ. Respiratory viral infections are a distinct risk for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and death. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004 July 15; 170(2): 181-7.

10. Chakinala MM, Ritter J, Gage BF, Aloush AA, Hachem RR, Lynch JP, Patterson GA, Trulock EP. Reliability for grading acute rejection and airway inflammation after lung transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant 2005 Jun; 24 (6): 652-7.

11. Khalifah AP, Hachem RR, Chakinala MM, Yusen RD, Aloush AA, Patterson GA, Mohanakumar T, Trulock EP, Walter MJ. Minimal acute rejection after lung transplantation: a risk for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Am J Transplant 2005; 5: 2022-30

12. Mikols CL, Yan L, Norris JY, Russell TD, Khalifah AP, Hachem RR, Chakinala MM, Yusen RD, Castro M, Kuo E, Patterson GA, Mohanakumar T, Trulock EP, Walter MJ. IL-12 p80 is an innate epithelial cell effector that mediates chronic allograft dysfunction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006; 174 (4): 461-70.

Book Chapters/Reviews

1. Hachem RR, Trulock EP. Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome: pathogenesis and management. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004 Winter; 16 (4): 350-5.

2. Trulock EP, Hachem RR. Surgery: Transplantation. Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine. Elsevier Ltd. 2006; 171-176.

3. Hachem RR. Tuberculosis. The Washington Manual. Pulmonary Medicine Subspecialty Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2006; 90-97.

4. Hachem RR. Induction immunosuppression after lung transplantation. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2006; 11: 617-20.