Dr. Jesse Hall studies the mechanisms and treatment of cardiopulmonary failure, pathophysiology of sepsis, pharmacology in the ICU, and outcomes from critical illness. His research group has conducted more than 70 research protocols focused on these areas, enrolling more than 3500 patients in both single and multi-center studies. The critical care clinical investigation group includes faculty, fellows and residents in training, study coordinators and statisticians. The University of Chicago is a participant in the NIH-funded ARDSnet as well as other multi-center study groups. In addition to the generation and implementation of study protocols, fellows benefit from structured didactic courses concerning study design, biostatistics, ethical and regulatory considerations, and other relevant topics.

Dr. Alan Leff trains fellows in both basic immunology of airways and applied translational and clinical pharmacology. He has trained fellows from all over the world, some of whom are now full professors and division heads at their own institution. Fellows are supervised on a day to day basis by continuous contact with two senior research associates/professionals. Research is focused upon the mechanism by which inflammatory cells target airways and is done in vitro and in vivo in rodent models and human subjects. A comprehensive focus of the work is the targeting of potential therapies for airway inflammation.

Dr. Julian Solway investigates the following: 1) Smooth Muscle Gene Transcription, Differentiation, and Function 2) Genetics of Asthma and Airway Hyperresponsiveness. He is PI on the “Research Training in Respiratory Biology” Training Grant. In addition, Dr. Solway is PI on a NIH/NIAID program project award titled “Molecular Mechanisms of Asthma”, and a NIH/NHLBI SCOR grant titled “SCOR in Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Asthma”. Dr. Solway continues to direct a premier and world-recognized smooth muscle laboratory and is the highest visibility scientist in our group.

Dr. Kimm Hamann studies the role of the TNF family death receptors, particularly Fas/CD95 receptor, in hematopoiesis and inflammation, and on the mitochondrial pathways of cell death in ischemia/reperfusion injury of cardiomyocytes. NIH-funded studies are focused on expression and function of Fas and FasL in the airways, and the death receptor activation of NF-kB and the role of its gene targets in apoptosis of inflammatory cells. Additional asthma-related studies include investigations of corticosteroid and beta-agonist effects on inflammatory cell apoptosis and survival. In NIH-funded studies of cardiomyocyte cell death, Dr. Hamann's group examines the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and "preconditioning"-induced protection against apoptosis, including NF-kB-mediated events, and involvement of other protective molecules.

Dr. Mary Strek studies the efficacy of new therapeutic agents in the treatment of a variety of pulmonary diseases including asthma, COPD, IPF, bronchiectasis and sarcoid. In addition, her clinical research team assists our basic scientists in implementing their translational studies and obtaining specimens via bronchoscopy. She mentors fellows in the development and implementation of novel mechanistic and therapeutic clinical research studies and in the conduct of pharmaceutical trials.

Dr. Steven R. White investigates mechanisms of airway epithelial repair, apoptosis and remodeling. His NIH-funded work examines the trophic role of cytokines such as transforming growth factor-beta, and the modulating role of corticosteroids and beta-adrenergic agonists, on airway epithelial cell survival and proliferation in both cell-based and in vivo models. Additional studies examine signal transduction pathways activated in the early stages of airway epithelial cell migration and repair.

Dr. Nickolai Dulin studies the signaling mechanisms controlling growth and differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and pulmonary fibroblasts in response to endothelin-1, extracellular ATP and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). This includes activation of various types of heterotrimeric G proteins, Smad transcription factors, and their modulation by the family of the regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins. His basic, NIH-funded research applies to understanding the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, restenosis, pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis at the molecular/cellular level.

Dr. John P. Kress is interested in clinical investigation in critical care outcomes. His current focus involves developing and testing protocols for the management of patients with respiratory failure. Clinically he is involved in both pulmonary and critical care medicine, with a particular focus on education in invasive procedures. Dr. Kress is co-director of the ACCP Critical Care Board Review.

Dr. Anne Sperling investigates costimulatory and accessory receptors in T-Cell activation and function in Th2-mediated inflammatory responses. Dr. Sperling’s research and funding success continues - she is currently PI on three NIH grants, as well as a key investigator on two other NIH sponsored grants.

Dr. Imre Noth is heavily involved in outpatient clinical research for asthma, COPD and IPF with opportunities to develop independent novel outpatient research. This involves independently coordinating recruitment and data collection while participating in multicenter trials for FDA approval of new treatments as well as answering interesting academic questions that can only be done in large patient populations. The fastest growing area is the IPF patient population in which the Respiratory Clinical Research (RCR) group has been very active.

Dr. Edward Naureckas is a member of the EPA sponsored Environmental Statistics Center and a co-investigator in the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Network where he participates in large multi-center trials of asthma therapy. Dr. Naureckas investigations include the assessment of adherence to asthma-related medications using pharmacy data and tracking the effects of outdoor air quality using asthma medication utilization.

Dr. Jerry Krishnan's laboratory is focused on the epidemiology and health services research of asthma and COPD. Examples of on-going studies include 1) health disparities in asthma, 2) epidemiology and treatment of acute asthma and COPD exacerbations, 3) evaluation of strategies to improve patient self-management practices in asthma and COPD.