Our research focuses on the regulation of alveolar remodeling in normal and pathological lung development. We are particularly interested in deciphering the role and regulation of apoptosis (programmed cell death) and angiogenesis (microvascular development) in alveolarization. We anticipate that these studies will contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease of preterm infants characterized by arrested alveolar development.
Research in our laboratory of Developmental Pathology focuses on the mechanisms regulating alveolar remodeling in developing mammalian lungs. We are particularly interested in the role and regulation of apoptosis (programmed cell death) in normal and pathological (ventilation-disrupted) alveolar lung development. We use a range of in vitro and in vivo model systems, including transgenic mice under- or overexpressing critical apoptotic molecules, to investigate the critical importance of (receptor-mediated) apoptosis in alveolar septation.
In addition, we have developed a recent interest in the role of angiogenesis in alveolar lung development, and specifically the patterns of angiogenesis in bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the debilitating chronic lung disease seen in preterm ventilated infants. While these studies were originally based on observations made in human postmortem lung tissues, we are now testing the mechanisms of ventilation-induced dysangiogenesis in vitro and in vivo using angiogenesis-related transgenic animal models.
We anticipate that these studies will contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a complex condition characterized by arrested alveolar development and disrupted angiogenesis.
"The Tracheal Ligation Model of Accelerated Fetal Lung Growth".
Grant: American Lung Association # RG-159-N
Amount: $49,500
Term: 7/1997-12/1999
Role: Principal Researcher
"Effect of Timing of Tracheal Occlusion on Lung Growth Response in Fetal Rabbits".
Grant: Rhode Island Foundation
Amount: $5,000
Term: 1/1998-12/1998
Role: Principal Investigator
"Role of the KGF/KGFR Axis in Normal, Hypoplastic and Experimentally Accelerated Fetal Lung Development".
Grant: Lifespan Developmental Grant
Amount: $24,500
Term: 3/1998-2/1999
Role: Principal Investigator
"Role of the Fas/FasL System in Postglandular Lung Apoptosis".
Grant: American Lung Association # RG-042-N
Amount: $49,929
Term: 7/2000-12/2002
Role: Principal Investigator
"Fas/FasL and Fetal Lung Development".
Grant: Junior Investigator Award, Society for Pediatric Pathology
Amount: $10,000
Term: 7/2000-6/2001
Role: Principal Investigator
"Role of Fas-Mediated Apoptosis in Perinatal Lung Remodeling"
Grant: NIH P20-RR018728, NIH NCRR, COBRE in Perinatal Biology (James F. Padbury)
Amount: $129,000/year
Term: 10/2003-9/2008
Role: Principal Investigator, subproject IV
