Massachusetts General Hospital

BiographyMy research focuses on the pathophysiology of respiratory diseases and aims at understanding the mechanisms by which the basic alterations of pulmonary perfusion and ventilation affect the clinical manifestations of lung disease, as well as the mechanisms that underlie response, or lack of response, to therapeutic interventions. A second major area of interest is the pathogenesis of Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI).

Research

Research Areas

• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
• Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI)
• Pulmonary functional and molecular imaging

Description of Research

My research group focuses on the pathophysiology of ARDS. The broad goal is to elucidate the mechanisms by which patients with ARDS develop VILI and to devise ventilatory strategies to decrease VILIs incidence.  The rationale for this research stems from studies showing that VILI is a contributor to the mortality of patients with ARDS and that ventilatory strategy can affect outcome. Current projects focus on the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and prone positioning on the regional distribution of pulmonary dysfunction and on the activity of inflammatory cells within the acutely injured lung. These projects employ imaging methods based on positron emission and computed tomography (PET-CT) to measure lung function and inflammatory cell activity non-invasively on a regional basis. Novel lines of research in which VILI is induced in mice of varying genetic makeup will be explored to dissect the molecular pathways underlying the development of VILI. The intention is to use molecular imaging methods to study these pathways in the intact lung of the living animal. This research is performed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of bioengineers, pulmonologists, radiologists and molecular biologists who bring varied and unique expertise. Consequently, this environment provides a fertile milieu for the intellectual and professional growth of residents and fellows who are committed to tackling fundamental problems in applied respiratory pathophysiology from multiple angles

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