Canning, Brendan J., Ph.D.

Research Interests

Innervation of the airways; airway reflexes

Past Research

Selected publications:

Kesler, BS and BJ Canning (1999).  Regulation of baseline cholinergic tone in guinea-pig airway smooth muscle.  J Physiol (Lond.), 518:  843-856.

Canning, BJ, SM Reynolds and SB Mazzone (2001).  Multiple mechanisms of reflex bronchospasm in guinea pigs.  J Appl Physiol, 91(6): 2642-2653.

Mazzone, SB and BJ Canning (2002).  Evidence for differential reflex regulation of cholinergic and noncholinergic parasympathetic nerves innervating the airways.  Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 165 (8), 1076-1083.

Mazzone, SB and BJ Canning (2002).  Synergistic interactions between airway afferent nerve subtypes mediating reflex bronchospasm in guinea pigs.  Am J Physiol (Regul Integr Comp Physiol), 283, R86-R98.

Canning, BJ, SM Reynolds, LU Anukwu, R Kajekar and AC Myers (2002).  Endogenous neurokinins facilitate synaptic neurotransmisssion in guinea pig airway parasympathetic ganglia. Am J Physiol (Regul Integr Comp Physiol), 283, R320-R330.

Canning, BJ, SB Mazzone, SN Meeker, SM Reynolds and BJ Undem (2004).  Identification of the tracheal and laryngeal afferent neurones mediating cough in anaesthetised guinea-pigs.  J. Physiol., 557 (2), 543-558. 

Current Research

Our current research is focused on mechanistic studies of the cough reflex.  We recently identified the afferent nerves that play an essential role in regulating cough (J Physiol., vol. 557.2, pp 543-558, 2004).  These “cough receptors” are exquisitely sensitive to acid and to punctuate mechanical stimuli and are readily distinguished from other afferent nerves innervating the airways based on action potential conduction velocity, distribution, and their insensitivity to capsaicin, bradykinin, airway smooth muscle contraction, stretch and alterations in luminal pressures within the airways.  Importantly, we have been able to intravitally label the peripheral nerve terminals of these afferent nerves using the styryl dye FM2-10.  This has permitted an unprecedented structure-function analysis of their excitability.  We have also been characterizing the CNS pathways regulating the cough reflex and interactions amongst various afferent nerve subtypes in regulating cough.  We have identified key sites of integration of airway afferent nerve input and mechanisms by which afferent nerve subtypes act synergistically to regulate cough.  These interactions may underlie the excessive coughing associated with upper and lower airways disease, and potentially, the coughing associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease.  Our experimental approaches include electrophysiological recordings, CNS microinjection techniques, in vivo preparations for monitoring cough and reflex bronchospasm, neuronal tracing and immunohistochemistry.

Laboratory

Since 1997, 4 postdoctoral fellows, 2 graduate students, 1 medical student, 4 undergraduates and 2 technicians have worked or are currently working in my laboratory.  These students and fellows have been very successful in the laboratory, publishing 17 peer-reviewed papers combined with 10 additional peer-reviewed manuscripts currently under review or in preparation.  Three of my postdoctoral fellows have been awarded prestigious individual national (NIH/ NRSA Awards) or international (Australian CJ Martin Fellowship Award) fellowships based on the work carried out in my lab and all are now employed either as research faculty or attending physicians.  Other accomplishments and awards received while working in my laboratory include a Denizon Award for outstanding research by a medical student, 3 undergraduate students being accepted into medical school or graduate school (all have now successfully completed their graduate training) and one former postdoctoral research fellow receiving a medical residency position in internal medicine.   In addition, fellows and students have had the opportunity to present their work at national and international meetings here in the United States and in Europe. 

Positions available

We will be seeking a research fellow in the Fall of 2006.  Inquiries can be made directly via e-mail:  bjc@jhmi.edu

Last Updated: 3/31/06