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Research Interests
My laboratory is involved in both translational and basic science approaches to evaluate lung development and injury with a predominant focus in emphysema and cystic fibrosis. We have utilized mice that are deficient in MMP-2, -9 and -14 (MT1-MMP) and the MMP inducer, basigin, to study the role of proteases in lung development and response to injury with acute and chronic cigarette smoke exposure, bleomycin, naphthalene and LPS. We have discovered that MT1-MMP is necessary for alveolar development and the development of pores of Kohn. We have discovered that the airway epithelial expression of MT1-MMP is critical for proliferative responses in acute small airway injury repair. In addition we have demonstrated in a seminal work that, although MMP-9 can degrade existing alveolar structure, it does not appear to be involved in the development of smoking associated emphysema in mice or humans.
Our largest current translational focus involves the accelerated emphysema and airway disease that has been described in HIV+ chronic smokers. We are evaluating the cause of this enhanced risk to assist both this population and possibly discover novel pathways that are also critical to early emphysema in HIV- individuals. Our work in these areas is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Lottie Caroline Hardy Trust.
I am also heavily involved in clinical trials of all phases in collaboration with the Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Development Network. We have been fortunate to be able to partner with industry sponsors and enroll many local patients in pivotal phase II and phase III clinical trials that have dramatically altered the outcomes of our patients.
Education and Training
- 1990 Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland
- 1994 Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- 1994-1997 Residency, Internal Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio
- 1997-1998 Chief Resident, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio
- 1998-2001 Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- 2001-2004 Clinical Instructor/Post-Doctoral Research Scholar, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
- 2005-2006 Instructor in Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- 2006-2017 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
- 2017-present Associate Professor of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
- 2002-present Associate Director, Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- 2006-present Director Adult Ciliary Dyskinesia Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- 2012-present Medical Director, Pulmonary Function Laboratory, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri