Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Names Inaugural Won Ro and Kyung Ja Shin Lee Research Scholars
The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine has named Laneshia K. Tague, MD, MSCI and James Krings, MD, MSCI as inaugural Won Ro and Kyung Ja Shin Lee Research Scholars. The award is made possible through the generosity of Won Ro and Kyung Ja Shin Lee, whose family’s philanthropic commitment to the Division supports the advancement of research and training in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Dr. Tague is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Program Director for Research in the PCCM Fellowship Program. Her research focuses on the pharmacogenomics of lung transplantation, investigating how genetic variation influences the metabolism of immunosuppressive drugs and how those differences affect long-term outcomes in transplant recipients. Her team has identified polymorphisms in the SLCO1B3 gene that significantly affect drug exposure and survival after transplantation, and she is currently developing personalized dosing tools that incorporate both clinical variables and genetic data. Dr. Tague is also studying the relationship between immunosuppressive agents and clonal hematopoiesis, exploring how these therapies may increase the risk of serious hematologic complications over time. Her research has meaningful implications for improving care in one of medicine’s most clinically complex patient populations.
Dr. Krings is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Assistant Professor of Public Health whose research addresses the prevention and management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). His work spans advanced quantitative imaging in asthma to implementation science focused on how guideline-recommended care reaches patients in real-world community settings. Funded by the American Lung Association and the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Krings partners with local clinics to identify and address barriers to optimal asthma management, with a particular focus on underserved populations. He also serves on the Missouri HealthNet Drug Prior Authorization Committee and is actively involved in multiple clinical trials in asthma and COPD.
The Won Ro and Kyung Ja Shin Lee Research Scholars Fund reflects the Lee family’s deep belief in the power of biomedical science to improve human health. Their support enables the Division to invest in early-career investigators whose work is shaping the future of pulmonary and critical care medicine. The selection of Drs. Tague and Krings underscores the Division’s commitment to rigorous, patient-centered research and to developing the next generation of physician-scientists.