Personal Statement

My research laboratory is focused on using genetically modified mice to develop models of inflammatory and fibrotic lung diseases. My laboratory has defined the roles of the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan and its receptors, CD44, TLR4 and TLR2, in regulating lung inflammation and fibrosis in response to non-infectious lung injury. My lab has extensive experience in generating genetically modified mouse models. Our laboratory has been exploring the role of matrix and matrix receptors in regulating the development of an invasive fibroblast phenotype in both mouse models and using fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Ongoing projects include exploring the origin of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in lung fibrosis, lung stem cells in lung injury and repair, and transcriptional regulation and epigenetic regulation of lung fibrosis.