Labs

Antoine Azar Lab

The Antoine Azar Lab conducts research on topics related to primary immunodeficiency diseases, allergies and lung disease. Specifically, we explore the role of primary immunodeficiency in certain difficult-to-treat chronic lung diseases, such as COPD, emphysema and asthma.

Research Areas: emphysema, immunology, asthma, allergies, lung disease, COPD

Bradley Undem Lab

Research in the Bradley Undem Lab centers around the hypothesis that the peripheral nervous system is directly involved in the processes of inflammation. This hypothesis is being studied primarily in the central airways and sympathetic ganglia. We are addressing this in a multidisciplinary fashion, using pharmacological, electrophysiological, biochemical and anatomical methodologies.

Research Areas: biochemistry, electrophysiology, inflammation, pharmacology, nervous system

Brendan J. Canning Lab

Research in the Brendan J. Canning Lab is focused on mechanistic studies of the cough reflex. Through our work, we identified the afferent nerves that play an essential role in regulating cough. 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. Our experimental approaches include electrophysiological recordings, CNS microinjection techniques, in vivo preparations for monitoring cough and reflex bronchospasm, neuronal tracing and immunohistochemistry.

Research Areas: airway reflexes, coughs, immunohistochemistry

David MacGlashan Laboratory

Research in the Donald MacGlashan Laboratory aims to understand the regulation of secretion from human basophils and mast cells—two cells thought to play key roles in allergic reactions and other diseases. The hallmark reaction in these cells is degranulation through cell-bound IgE. Our interests lie in the signaling mechanisms that control this dramatic cell response and the factors that regulate the degree of the reaction.

Research Areas: mast cells, allergies, basophils

Jody Tversky Lab

The Jody Tversky Lab studies dendritic cells in allergy and immunotherapy; cluster immunotherapy clinical observations and immune tolerance; and clinical diagnostic sensitivity of 10 allergy skin prick devices.

Research Areas: allergies, immunotherapy

John Schroeder Lab

The John Schroeder Lab focuses on understanding the role human basophils and mast cells play in allergic reactions, as it relates not only to their secretion of potent inflammatory mediators (e.g., histamine and leukotriene C4) but also to their production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We have long utilized human cells rather than cell lines in order to address the parameters, signal transduction and pharmacological aspects underlying clinically relevant basophil and mast cell responses. As a result, the lab has established protocols for rapidly isolating large numbers of basophils at high purity from human blood and for growing culture-derived mast cells/basophils from human progenitor cells. A variety of assays and techniques are also in place for concurrently detecting cytokines and mediators following a wide range of stimuli. These have facilitated the in vitro testing of numerous anti-allergic drugs for inhibitory activity on basophil and mast cell activation. The lab also studie...s counter-regulation between the IgE and innate immune receptors on human immature dendritic cell subtypes. view more

Research Areas: cell biology, allergies, inflammation

Johns Hopkins University Dermatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (DACI) Reference Laboratory

The mission of the Johns Hopkins University Dermatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (DACI) Reference Laboratory is to provide comprehensive, high-quality diagnostic allergy and immunology testing to patients throughout North America with asthma, allergy and immunologic disorders. We offer an extensive menu of laboratory tests that includes allergen-specific IgE measurements to approximately 300 pollen, epidermal, mold spore, mite, food, drug, venom and occupational allergen specificities. We specialize in Hymenoptera (insect sting) venom-specific IgE and IgG antibody measurements. In addition, the DACI Laboratory performs hypersensitivity pneumonitis precipitin panels, serum cotinine, and environmental mold measurements.

Research Areas: immunology, asthma, allergies, allergens, dermatology

Li Gao Lab

The Li Gao Lab researches functional genomics, molecular genetics and epigenetics of complex cardiopulmonary and allergic diseases, with a focus on translational research applying fundamental genetic insight into the clinical setting. Current research includes implementation of high-throughput technologies in the fields of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), massively parallel sequencing, gene expression analysis, epigenetic mapping and integrative genomics in ongoing research of complex lung diseases and allergic diseases including asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), pulmonary arterial hypertension, COPD, sepsis and acute lung injury/ARDS; and epigenetic contributions to pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis.

Research Areas: pulmonary arterial hypertension, molecular genetics, cardiopulmonary diseases, asthma, epigenetics, complex lung disease, allergies, genomics, COPD, atopic dermatitis

Peisong Gao Lab

The Peisong Gao Lab’s major focus is to understand the immunological and genetic regulation of allergic diseases. We have been involved in the identification of the genetic basis for atopic dermatitis and eczema herpeticum (ADEH) as part of the NIH Atopic Dermatitis and Vaccinia Network-Clinical Studies Consortium. Major projects in the Gao Lab include immunogenetic analysis of human response to allergen, identification of candidate genes for specific immune responsiveness to cockroach allergen, and epigenetics of food allergy (FA).

Research Areas: food allergies, eczema herpeticum, epigenetics, allergies, genomics, atopic dermatitis

Joseph Carrese Lab

Research in the Joseph Carrese Lab focuses on clinical ethics and professionalism, with a particular interest in medical education and examining ethical issues in the context of cultural diversity. We collaborate with colleagues to design, implement and evaluate educational curricula addressing ethics and professionalism issues in clinical practice.

Research Areas: cultural diversity, clinical ethics, bioethics

Rachel Levine Lab

The Rachel Levine Lab is interested in physician growth and well-being, best practices for advising medical students, and the experiences of women faculty and medical students in medicine.

Research Areas: medical education, women faculty, physician well-being

Robert Shochet Lab

The Robert Shochet Lab focuses on medical education research, including the impact of learning communities on students' perceptions of the learning environment in medical school.

Research Areas: medical education, learning communities

Anderson Lab

Research in the Anderson laboratory focuses on cellular signaling and ionic mechanisms that cause heart failure, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, major public health problems worldwide. Primary focus is on the multifunctional Ca2+ and calmodulin...-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). The laboratory identified CaMKII as an important pro-arrhythmic and pro-cardiomyopathic signal, and its studies have provided proof of concept evidence motivating active efforts in biotech and the pharmaceutical industry to develop therapeutic CaMKII inhibitory drugs to treat heart failure and arrhythmias.

Under physiological conditions, CaMKII is important for excitation-contraction coupling and fight or flight increases in heart rate. However, myocardial CaMKII is excessively activated during disease conditions where it contributes to loss of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, membrane hyperexcitability, premature cell death, and hypertrophic and inflammatory transcription. These downstream targets appear to contribute coordinately and decisively to heart failure and arrhythmias. Recently, researchers developed evidence that CaMKII also participates in asthma.

Efforts at the laboratory, funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, are highly collaborative and involve undergraduate assistants, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty. Key areas of focus are:
• Ion channel biology and arrhythmias
• Cardiac pacemaker physiology and disease
• Molecular physiology of CaMKII
• Myocardial and mitochondrial metabolism
• CaMKII and reactive oxygen species in asthma

Mark Anderson, MD, is the William Osler Professor of Medicine, the director of the Department of Medicine in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and physician-in-chief of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. view more

Aravinda Chakravarti's Lab

Aravinda Chakravarti's Lab focuses on the development and applications of genetic, genomic, and computational technologies and perspectives for gene discovery in a variety of complex human diseases.

Our goal is to assess how genomic information c...an be used in modern clinical medicine in the era of personalized medicine. Specifically, we use a variety of disease models to infer the features of complex disease gene architecture in birth defects (namely, Hirschsprung disease), cardiovascular disorders (including hypertension and sudden cardiac death) and mental illness (autism, bipolar disease and schizophrenia). view more

Cammarato Lab

The Cammarato Lab is located in the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. We are interested in basic mechanisms of striated muscle biology.

We employ an array of imaging technique...s to study “structural physiology” of cardiac and skeletal muscle. Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, expresses both forms of striated muscle and benefits greatly from powerful genetic tools. We investigate conserved myopathic (muscle disease) processes and perform hierarchical and integrative analysis of muscle function from the level of single molecules and macromolecular complexes through the level of the tissue itself.

Anthony Ross Cammarato, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the Cardiology Department. He studies the identification and manipulation of age- and mutation-dependent modifiers of cardiac function, hierarchical modeling and imaging of contractile machinery, integrative analysis of striated muscle performance and myopathic processes. view more

Cardiology Bioengineering Laboratory

The Cardiology Bioengineering Laboratory, located in the Johns Hopkins Hospital, focuses on the applications of advanced imaging techniques for arrhythmia management. The primary limitation of current fluoroscopy-guided techniques for ablation of car...diac arrhythmia is the inability to visualize soft tissues and 3-dimensional anatomic relationships.

Implementation of alternative advanced modalities has the potential to improve complex ablation procedures by guiding catheter placement, visualizing abnormal scar tissue, reducing procedural time devoted to mapping, and eliminating patient and operator exposure to radiation.

Active projects include
• Physiological differences between isolated hearts in ventricular fibrillation and pulseless electrical activity
• Successful ablation sites in ischemic ventricular tachycardia in a porcine model and the correlation to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• MRI-guided radiofrequency ablation of canine atrial fibrillation, and diagnosis and intervention for arrhythmias
• Physiological and metabolic effects of interruptions in chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Henry Halperin, MD, is co-director of the Johns Hopkins Imaging Institute of Excellence and a
professor of medicine, radiology and biomedical engineering. Menekhem M. Zviman, PhD is the laboratory manager.
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Foster Lab

The Foster Lab uses the tools of protein biochemistry and proteomics to tackle fundamental problems in the fields of cardiac preconditioning and heart failure. Protein networks are perturbed in heart disease in a manner that correlates only weakly wi...th changes in mRNA transcripts. Moreover, proteomic techniques afford the systematic assessment of post-translational modifications that regulate the activity of proteins responsible for every aspect of heart function from electrical excitation to contraction and metabolism. Understanding the status of protein networks in the diseased state is, therefore, key to discovering new therapies.

D. Brian Foster, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of medicine in the division of cardiology, and serves as Director of the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Biochemistry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.


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Kass Lab

Basic science investigations span an array of inquiries, such as understanding the basic mechanisms underlying cardiac dyssynchrony and resynchronization in the failing heart, and beneficial influences of nitric oxide/cGMP/protein kinase G and cGMP-t...argeted phosphdiesterase signaling cascades on cardiac maladaptive stress remodeling. Recently, the latter has particularly focused on the role of phosphodiesterase type 5 and its pharmacologic inhibitors (e.g. sildenafi, Viagra®), on myocyte signaling cascades modulated by protein kinase G, and on the nitric oxide synthase dysregulation coupled with oxidant stress.

The lab also conducts clinical research and is presently exploring new treatments for heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction, studying ventricular-arterial interaction and its role in adverse heart-vessel coupling in left heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, and testing new drug, device, and cell therapies for heart disease. A major theme has been with the use of advanced non-invasive and invasive catheterization-based methods to assess cardiac mechanics in patients.asive and invasive catheterization-based methods to assess cardiac mechanics in patients.

David Kass, MD, is currently the Director at the Johns Hopkins Center for Molecular Cardiobiology and a professor in cellular and molecular medicine. view more

Lima Lab

The Lima Lab’s research is concentrated on the development and application of imaging and technology to address scientific and clinical problems involving the heart and vascular system.

Specifically, our research is focused on developing magnetic ...resonance imaging (MRI) contrast techniques to investigate microvascular function in patients and experimental animals with myocardial infarction; functional reserve secondary to dobutamine stimulation and myocardial viability assessed by sodium imaging; and cardiac MRI and computed tomography (CT) program development of techniques to characterize atherosclerosis in humans with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease.

Current projects include:
• The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study
• The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) Study
• The Coronary Artery Evaluation using 64-row Multidetector Computed Tomography Angiography (CORE64) Study

Joao Lima, MD, is a professor of medicine, radiology and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. view more

O'Rourke Lab

The O’Rourke Lab uses an integrated approach to study the biophysics and physiology of cardiac cells in normal and diseased states.

Research in our lab has incorporated mitochondrial energetics, Ca2+ dynamics, and electrophysiology to provide tool...s for studying how defective function of one component of the cell can lead to catastrophic effects on whole cell and whole organ function. By understanding the links between Ca2+, electrical excitability and energy production, we hope to understand the cellular basis of cardiac arrhythmias, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and sudden death.

We use state-of-the-art techniques, including single-channel and whole-cell patch clamp, microfluorimetry, conventional and two-photon fluorescence imaging, and molecular biology to study the structure and function of single proteins to the intact muscle. Experimental results are compared with simulations of computational models in order to understand the findings in the context of the system as a whole.

Ongoing studies in our lab are focused on identifying the specific molecular targets modified by oxidative or ischemic stress and how they affect mitochondrial and whole heart function.

The motivation for all of the work is to understand
• how the molecular details of the heart cell work together to maintain function and
• how the synchronization of the parts can go wrong

Rational strategies can then be devised to correct dysfunction during the progression of disease through a comprehensive understanding of basic mechanisms.

Brian O’Rourke, PhD, is a professor in the Division of Cardiology and Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Research, Department of Medicine, at the Johns Hopkins University. view more

Post Lab

The Post Lab is involved in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a collaborative study of the characteristics of subclinical cardiovascular disease (that is, disease detected non-invasively before it has produced clinical signs and sympt...oms) and the risk factors that predict progression to clinically overt cardiovascular disease or progression of the subclinical disease.

As MESA researchers, we study a diverse, population-based sample of 6,814 asymptomatic men and women aged 45-84. Approximately 38 percent of the recruited participants are white, 28 percent African-American, 22 percent Hispanic, and 12 percent Asian, predominantly of Chinese descent.

Participants were recruited from six field centers across the United States, including Johns Hopkins University. Each participant received an extensive physical exam to determine a number of conditions, including coronary calcification, ventricular mass and function, flow-mediated endothelial vasodilation, standard coronary risk factors, sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors, and psychosocial factors.

Selected repetition of subclinical disease measures and risk factors at follow-up visits have allowed study of the progression of disease. Participants are being followed for identification and characterization of cardiovascular disease events, including acute myocardial infarction and other forms of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and congestive heart failure; for cardiovascular disease interventions; and for mortality.

Wendy S. Post, MD, MS, is an associate faculty, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, and a professor of medicine. view more

Alan Baer Lab

Research in the Alan Baer Lab focuses on Sjogren's syndrome. Previously, we conducted the Sjogren's International Registry (SICCA), enrolling 300 patients and creating a valuable source of clinical data and biospecimens for research we're conducting with colleagues at Johns Hopkins and the University of California-San Francisco. Currently, we're conducting a longitudinal observational study of patients with Sjogren's syndrome. We're also collaborating with Dr. Ben Larman in the Department of Pathology, using phage immuno-precipation sequencing to work on a characterization of the complete autoantibody repertoire in Sjogren's syndrome patients.

Research Areas: autoantibodies, Sjogren's syndrome, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, observational data

Allan Gelber Lab

The Allan Gelber Lab conducts research on the clinical epidemiology of rheumatic disorders. Our recent studies have explored topics that include the predicting factors of prevalent and incident gout; cardiovascular disease burden and risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; autoantibodies in both primary and secondary SjogrenÕs syndrome; and predictors of outcomes in patients with scleroderma. In addition, we have a long-standing interest in the ways in which racial differences affect disease manifestations in relation to rheumatic disorders.

Research Areas: rheumatology, gout, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, race, health disparities, rheumatoid arthritis

Ami Shah Lab

Researchers in the Ami Shah Lab study scleroderma and Raynaud’s phenomenon. We examine the relationship between cancer and scleroderma, with a focus on how and if cancer causes scleroderma to develop in some patients. We are currently conducting clinical research to study ways to detect cardiopulmonary complications in patients with scleroderma, biological and imaging markers of Raynaud’s phenomenon, and drugs that improve aspects of scleroderma.

Research Areas: Raynaud's phenomenon, cancer, scleroderma, drugs, cardiovascular diseases

Ana-Marie Orbai Lab

The Ana-Marie Orbai Lab focuses on inflammatory arthritis. Current clinical research projects in the lab examine patient symptoms and experiences in rheumatic diseases and inflammatory arthritis. We focus on stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis and patient-reported outcomes. Previous research in the lab focused on systemic lupus erythemaous (SLE).

Research Areas: autoimmune rheumatic diseases, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis

Antony Rosen Lab

Research in the Antony Rosen Lab investigates the mechanisms shared by the autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as lupus, myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and SjogrenÕs syndrome. We focus on the fate of autoantigens in target cells during various circumstances, such as viral infection, relevant immune effector pathways and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Our recent research has sought to define the traits of autoantibodies that enable them to induce cellular or molecular dysfunction. We also work to better understand the mechanisms that form the striking connections between autoimmunity and cancer.

Research Areas: myositis, lupus, rheumatology, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis

Clifton O. Bingham III Lab

Research in the Clifton O. Bingham III Lab focuses on defining clinical and biochemical disease phenotypes related to therapeutic responses in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis; developing rational clinical trial designs to test new treatments; improving patient-reported outcome measures; evaluating novel imaging modalities for arthritis; and examining the role of oral health in inflammatory arthritis.

Research Areas: biochemistry, imaging, osteoarthritis, clinical trials, inflammation, oral health, rheumatoid arthritis

Erika Darrah Lab

The Erika Darrah Lab is primarily interested in the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a particular focus on the peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes. We’re focused on understanding the development of PAD4-activating autoantibodies over time and how they contribute to the development of erosive disease. Studies are underway to determine if the newly discovered antibody is mimicking a naturally occurring PAD4 binding partner and to identify potentially pro-inflammatory effects of citrullinated proteins on effector cells of the immune system.

Research Areas: antibodies, autoimmune diseases, peptidylarginine deiminase enzymes, rheumatoid arthritis

Felipe Andrade Laboratory

Research in the laboratory of Felipe Andrade, M.D., Ph.D., focuses on the mechanisms of systemic autoimmune diseases, particularly as they relate to the role of cytotoxic granule proteases in autoimmunity and viral clearance, mechanisms of autoantigen citrullination and pathways that control immune effector functions in autoimmune diseases. We currently focus on two principal areas: (1) defining the mechanisms that generate citrullinated autoantigens in vivo in rheumatoid arthritis and (2) understanding the pathways that control the activity of the peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes in human neutrophils.

Research Areas: autoantigens, autoimmune diseases, cytotoxic granule proteases, peptidylarginine deiminase enzymes, rheumatoid arthritis

Fredrick Wigley Lab

The Frederick Wigley Lab is interested in the signs, symptoms and causes of scleroderma. We are testing new treatments for RaynaudÕs phenomenon and scleroderma. Understanding the treatment approach to Raynaud's phenomenon and associated ischemia and how to prevent digital ulcers is important for clinicians caring for these patients. Work in our lab has provided guidance in the management of Raynaud's phenomenon and digital ischemic ulcers, including options for the practical pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions.

Research Areas: Raynaud's phenomenon, rheumatology, scleroderma, autoimmune diseases, systemic sclerosis, ischemic ulcers

Grant Louie Lab

The Grant Louie Lab studies spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis. We capture data and biological specimens from patients with spondyloarthritis. We hope to precisely phenotype patients with spondyloarthritis and to study the specimens to understand the pathogenesis of the disease. Our goal is to develop novel therapeutic targets of the disease.

Research Areas: ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatology, nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis, spondyloarthritis, arthritis

Brent Petty Lab

Dr. Petty's laboratory interests focuses on antimicrobial chemotherapy, hospital-based medical practices, and internal medicine collaboration with ophthalmologic clinical trials.

Research Areas: cancer therapies, chemotherapy, patient-centered health care, hospital-based medical practices, cancer, internal medicine

Charles W. Flexner Laboratory

A. Laboratory activities include the use of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) techniques to measure intracellular drugs and drugs metabolites. AMS is a highly sensitive method for detecting tracer amounts of radio-labeled molecules in cells, tissues, and body fluids. We have been able to measure intracellular zidovudine triphosphate (the active anabolite of zidovudine) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers given small doses of 14C-zidovudine, and have directly compared the sensitivity of AMS to traditional LC/MS methods carried out in our laboratory.

B. Clinical research activities investigate the clinical pharmacology of new anti-HIV therapies and drug combinations. Specific drug classes studied include HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, entry inhibitors (selective CCR5 and CXCR4 antagonists), and integrase inhibitors. Scientific objectives of clinical studies include characterization of early drug activity, toxicity, and pharmacok...inetics. Additional objectives are characterization of pathways of drug metabolism, and identification of clinically significant harmful and beneficial drug interactions mediated by hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P450 isoforms. view more

Research Areas: antiretroviral drugs, infectious disease, HIV protease inhibitors, HIV, drugs, accelerator mass spectrometry

Craig W. Hendrix Lab

Research in the Craig W. Hendrix Lab concentrates on the chemoprevention of HIV infection, clinical pharmacology of antiviral drugs, drug interactions, and oral, topical and injectable HIV microbicide development. Our lab conducts small, intensive sampling studies of PK and PD of drugs for HIV prevention with a focus on developing methods to better understand HIV and drug distribution in the male genital tract, female genital tract and lower gastrointestinal tract. We also support numerous HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis development studies from phase I to phase III, largely as leader of the Pharmacology Core Laboratory of both the Microbicide Trial Network and HIV Prevention Trials Network.

Research Areas: antiretroviral therapies, infectious disease, HIV, drugs

Kelly E. Dooley Laboratory

Research focuses on clinical pharmacology of new anti-tuberculosis regimens with an emphasis on: (1) Phase I clinical trials of new or existing anti-TB drugs including dose escalation trials and studies of drug-drug interactions between anti-TB agents and antiretrovirals to treat HIV; (2) Use of PK/PD analysis and modelling in Phase II tuberculosis clinical treatment trials to determine concentration-effect relationships that will allow for optimization of dosing; and (3) Evaluation of TB and HIV drug concentrations in special populations, such as pregnant women and children; (4) Evaluation of treatment-shortening regimens for drug-sensitive TB and investigational regimens for treatment of multidrug-resistant TB; and (5) Translational work involving novel animal models of cavitary pulmonary TB disease to understand drug distribution in diseased lung.

Research Areas: anti-infective drugs, antiretroviral therapies, tuberculosis and HIV treatments, HIV, lung disease, pharmacology, tuberculosis

Namandje N. Bumpus Lab

The Bumpus Laboratory uses mass spectrometry and molecular pharmacology-based approaches to study the biotransformation of clinically used drugs by the cytochromes P450s. Specifically, we are studying ways to define a role for cytochrome P450-dependent metabolites in the drug-induced acute liver failure that is associated with certain antiviral drugs used to treat HIV and hepatitis C. Our long-term goal is to gain information that can be used to develop therapies that are devoid of toxic events by preventing the formation of a toxic metabolite or by developing strategies for preventing toxicity using concomitant therapy.

Research Areas: antiviral therapy, drug metabolism, mass spectrometry, HIV, drugs, cellular signaling, cytochromes P450, pharmacology, molecular pharmacology, hepatitis C, metabolomics

Theresa Shapiro Laboratory

The Theresa Shapiro Laboratory studies antiparasitic chemotherapy. On a molecular basis, we are interested in understanding the mechanism of action for existing antiparasitic agents, and in identifying vulnerable metabolic targets for much-needed, new, antiparasitic chemotherapy. Clinically, our studies are directed toward an evaluation, in humans, of the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, metabolism and safety of experimental antiparasitic drugs.

Research Areas: sleeping sickness, infectious disease, drugs, malaria, pharmacology, antiparasitic chemotherapy, molecular biology

Adrian Dobs Lab

Researchers in the Adrian Dobs Lab study topics that include gonadal dysfunction, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and the relationship between sex hormones and heart disease. We currently are investigating male gonadal function—with particular interest in new forms of male hormone replacement therapy—and hormonal changes related to aging.

Research Areas: diabetes mellitus, hormones, hyperlipidemia, male gonadal function, cardiovascular diseases, endocrinology

Aniket Sidhaye Lab

Dr. Sidhaye is interested in improving the care of persons with cystic fibrosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus and hospitalized person with diabetes. research topics include bone health of persons with CF undergoing lung transplant, CF-related diabetes mellitus, Care of persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus transitioning from pediatrics to adult specialty clinics, Management of hospitalized persons with diabetes.

Research Areas: biochemistry, obesity, hormones, diabetes, transitional care, endocrinology, thyroid

David Cooper Lab

Research in the David S. Cooper Lab focuses primarily on hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Topics of recent published studies include the NTCTCS staging systems for differentiated thyroid cancer, radioiodine remnant ablation in low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer, and the link between race/ethnicity and the prevalence of thyrotoxicosis in young Americans.

Research Areas: neoplasms, hyperthyroidism, cancer, thyroidectomy, thyroid, Graves’ disease, hypothyroidism

Douglas Ball Lab

The Douglas Ball Lab conducts clinical trials and pre-clinical laboratory studies of thyroid cancer. Our clinical trials, performed in collaboration with research staff in the upper aero-digestive group in the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, have included protocols for advanced radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer and medullary thyroid cancer. Our pre-clinical research, conducted with Dr. Nelkin, Dr. Agrawal and other Kimmel Cancer Center researchers, includes pathogenesis and mechanisms of treatment resistance in medullary thyroid cancer, and pathogenesis and immune-directed therapy of anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Research Areas: thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer

Gary Wand Lab

Research conducted in the Gary Wand Lab focuses on neuropsychoendocrinology; the neurobiology of substance abuse; physiogenetics and regulation of the stress response; and the relationship between stress and chemical dependency. Current studies seek to better understand the genetic determinants of the stress response and how excessive stress hormone production contributes to neurobiological disorders, including addiction.

Research Areas: neurobiology, substance abuse, stress, hormones, physiogenetics, neuropsychoendocrinology, alcoholism

Kendall Moseley Lab

Research in the Kendall Moseley Lab is focused on the interplay between type 2 diabetes, aging and osteoporosis. We also study the function of bone stem cells in the regulation of bone remodeling.

Research Areas: type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, stem cells, aging

Michael Mingzhao Xing Lab

Investigators in the Michael Mingzhao Xing Lab study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of thyroid cancer, including its genetic and epigenetic alterations and related cellular behaviors. We are particularly interested in exploring cellular and molecular derangements associated with the MAP kinase and PI3K/Akt pathways as a fundamental mechanism in thyroid tumorigenesis. The clinical translation of research findings is an important focus for us. Examples include the team’s demonstrations of the prognostic value of the BRAF mutation for risk stratification of thyroid cancer, as well as its preoperative value when tested on thyroid fine-needle biopsy specimens.

Research Areas: thyroid cancer, molecular genetics, epigenetics, genomics

Nestoras Mathioudakis Lab

The Nestoras Mathioudakis Lab focuses on improving patient safety and quality for hospitalized diabetes patients. Our interests include inpatient glucose management, type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic foot ulcers.

Research Areas: glucose management, health care quality, safety, diabetes, diabetic foot ulcers

Paul Ladenson Lab

The Paul Ladenson Lab studies the application of thyroid hormone analogues for treating cardiovascular disease; novel approaches to thyroid cancer diagnosis and management; and the health economic analyses related to thyroid patient care.

Research Areas: thyroid cancer, cardiovascular diseases, endocrinology

Rita Kalyani Lab

Research in the Rita Kalyani Lab examines the decreased physical functioning observed in patients with diabetes as they age. Through several ongoing epidemiological cohorts, we are investigating the association of high blood glucose and high insulin levels with accelerated muscle loss, and possible contributions to the physical disability observed in diabetes. We are currently involved in clinical studies that aim to understand the underlying mechanisms for these associations and to facilitate the development of novel strategies to prevent muscle loss and disability in people with diabetes.

Research Areas: metabolism, insulin, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, endocrinology, blood glucose

Ahmet Gurakar Lab

The Ahmet Gurakar Lab is interested in bioartificial liver dialysis systems and the application of total plasma exchange in the treatment of liver disorders.

Research Areas: transplants, viral hepatitis, liver diseases, plasma exchange

Alyssa Parian Lab

The Alyssa Parian Lab works to identify early markers of dysplasia. We also study inflammatory bowel disease-associated cancers, conduct IBD clinical trials and examine IBD extraintestinal manifestations.

Research Areas: inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, displaysia

Brindusa Truta Lab

The Brindusa Truta Lab studies inflammatory bowel diseases, specifically Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Recent studies defined factors associated with the development of Crohn's disease after ileal pouch anal anastomosis; determined the value of histology in identifying Lynch syndrome in early-onset of colorectal cancer patients; and compared the phenotype and genotype in adenomatous polyposis patients with and without a family history.

Research Areas: inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis

Ellen Stein Lab

Research interests in the Ellen Stein Lab include motility disorders and esophageal diseases such as reflux disease, achalasia, Barrett's esophagus and eosinophilic esophagitis.

Research Areas: reflux disease, esophageal disease, achalasia, eosinophilic esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, motility disorders

Eun Ji Shin Lab

Research interests in the Eun Ji Shin Lab include clinical research on obesity and the effect on GI neoplasia/malignancy.

Research Areas: gastroenterology, neoplasms, obesity

Florin Selaru Lab

Research interests in the Florin Selaru Lab comprise the molecular changes associated with the transition from inflammatory states in the GI tract (colon, stomach, biliary tree) to frank cancers. In addition, our current research—funded by the AGA, FAMRI and the Broad Foundation—works to further the understanding of cancer development and progression in the gastrointestinal tract.

Research Areas: gastroenterology, cancer, inflammation, molecular biology

Fluorescence Imaging Core

The goal of the Fluorescence Imaging Core is to provide state-of-art light microscopy technology to the members of the Hopkins Basic Research Digestive Disease Development Center and to the whole Hopkins scientific community. Services include advanced cell and tissue multicolor imaging using Zeiss LSM-510 META, including XYZT, FREP and FRET; live cell and tissue imaging using an Olympus FV1000 MP with ratiometric ionic probes; and measurements of intracellular pH (potentially other ions) on cell populations using PTI’s RatioMaster and QuantMaster spectrofluorometic systems equipped with temperature controlled perfusion chambers.

Research Areas: imaging, light microscopy, digestive diseases

Francis Giardiello Lab

Research in the Francis Giardiello Lab focuses on the study of cancer and cancer chemoprevention in the gastrointestinal tract. This has included the investigation of the genetic basis of familial colorectal cancer and the use of genetic testing in the hereditary forms of colorectal cancer. We have a continuing interest in the study of the genotypic-phenotypic correlations in polyposis syndromes, which include familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Research Areas: gastrointestinal system, colorectal cancer, cancer, genomics, polyposis syndromes

Gerard E. Mullin Lab

The Gerard E. Mullin Lab studies nutrition and the way that diet affects weight loss. In particular, we study how having an imbalanced gut microbiome may prevent weight loss in certain people.

Research Areas: gut bacteria, nutrition, gut microbiota, obesity, weight loss

GI Biomarkers Laboratory

The GI Biomarkers Laboratory studies gastrointestinal cancer and pre-cancer biogenesis and biomarkers. The lab is led by Dr. Stephen Meltzer, who is known for his research in the molecular pathobiology of gastrointestinal malignancy and premalignancy. Research in the lab has led to several groundbreaking genomic, epigenomic and bioinformatic studies of esophageal and colonic neoplasms, shifting the gastrointestinal research paradaigm toward genome-wide approaches.

Research Areas: gastrointestinal system, translational research in Barrett’s esophagus-associated neoplastic progression, Molecular pathophysiology, biomarkers, cancer, epigenetics, genomics, bioinformatics, biogenesis

Anastasia Seymour Lab

Research in the Anastasia Seymour Lab focuses on ambulatory care, prevention and integrative medicine.

Research Areas: integrative medicine, ambulatory care

Anika Alvanzo Lab

Work in the Anika Alvanzo Lab focuses on screening and interventions for at-risk substance use, and race, ethnicity and sex differences in substance use disorders.

Research Areas: substance abuse, race, health disparities

Anne Monroe Lab

Research interests of the Anne Monroe Lab include retention in HIV care and metabolic and cardiovascular complications of HIV. Recently, we examined the association between physical activity and degree of insulin resistance, and whether HIV serostatus is associated with not achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) target, both among Multi-center AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) participants.

Research Areas: HIV, insulin, cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol

Bimal Ashar Lab

Research in the Bimal Ashar Lab focuses on preventive medicine, medical education and dietary supplements. Recent research explored medical residents' knowledge of dietary supplements and examined the reported validity and reliability of methods for evaluating continuing medical education.

Research Areas: primary care, medical education, preventive medicine, dietary supplements

Carrie Herzke Lab

The Carrie Herzke Lab focuses on patient safety and quality improvement. We’re also interested in infectious diseases, particularly infection control, and the education of resident and medical students.

Research Areas: patient safety, quality improvement, infectious disease

Chiquita Collins Lab

Work in the Chiquita Collins Lab examines health disparities, particularly as they relate to the social context and various societal influences that contribute to health differences among racial/ethnic and across socioeconomic groups. Our recent research has dealt with the impact of racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities on the quality of health care. In addition, we have studied the ways in which recent advances in communication research are impacting childhood obesity rates.

Research Areas: childhood obesity, obesity, race, linguistic competence, cultural competence, health disparities

Christopher Chute Lab

Work in the Christopher Chute Lab involves the management of clinical data to enable effective evidence-based clinical practice and translational research. Recently, we developed an EHR-based genetic testing knowledge base to be integrated into the genetic testing ontology (GTO) and identified potential barriers to pharmacogenomics clinical decision support (CDS) implementation.

Research Areas: pharmacogenomics, genomics, electronic health records, bioinformatics, evidence-based medicine, phenotypes

Claire Snyder Lab

Researchers in the Claire Snyder Lab study the quality of cancer care, with a special focus on two areas: the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing treatment and the coordination of care between cancer specialists and primary care providers. As part of our quality-of-life research, we're investigating the use of patient-reported outcome questionnaires in routine oncology practice as well as developing a website for collecting the questionnaires and linking them with the electronic medical record. As part of our cancer-survivorship research, we've conducted large database studies to identify the physician specialties involved in the care of cancer survivors and to determine how that relates to survivors receiving recommended follow-up care. We're also working with investigators in the Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center to develop care strategies for breast cancer survivors.

Research Areas: breast cancer, cancer survivors, cancer, quality of life, care coordination

Craig Pollack Lab

Research in the Craig Pollack Lab focuses on cancer prevention and control, particularly prostate cancer. Our work aims to understand how the organization environment of health care affects the type and quality of care that patients receive. Other work investigates the broader social context of health and health care— specifically housing, financial hardship and socioeconomic status.

Research Areas: sociodemographics, prostate, cancer, quality of care

Daniel Brotman Lab

Research in the Daniel Brotman Lab focuses on aspects of hospital medicine such as quality improvement, patient satisfaction and perioperative medicine. We recently conducted a cohort study of hypertensive African Americans to examine how access to care, treatment ambivalence and medication non-adherence affect long-term mortality.

Research Areas: patient satisfaction, quality improvement, African Americans, hospital medicine

Alison Moliterno Lab

The Alison Moliterno Lab studies the molecular pathogenesis of myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs), including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis and idiopathic myelofibrosis. Our research is focused on the genetic and epigenetic lesions associated with MPDs, with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment for these disorders.

Research Areas: blood disorders, idiopathic myelofibrosis, essential thrombocytosis, epigenetics, genomics, polycythemia vera, myeloproliferative disorders

Carlton Haywood Lab

The Carlton Haywood Lab studies sickle cell disease, with a focus on the issue of trust among sickle cell patients. Additional research studies the articulation of African-American perspectives in bioethics.

Research Areas: sickle cell diseases, African Americans, bioethics

Jerry Spivak Lab

Research in the Jerry Spivak Lab focuses on chronic myeloproliferative disorders, particularly their molecular mechanisms and methods for distinguishing them diagnostically and interventionally. By analyzing gene expression in polycythemia vera stem cells, we have learned that patients with polycythemia vera can be differentiated from those with erythrocytosis and can be diagnosed as having either aggressive or slow-growing disease. We are also studying the roles played by specific molecular markers in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of polycythemia vera.

Research Areas: stem cells, pathogenesis, polycythemia vera, myeloproliferative disorders

Linda Smith-Resar Lab

The Linda Smith-Resar Lab primarily investigates hematologic malignancy and molecular mechanisms that lead to cancer as well as sickle cell anemia. Recent studies suggest that education is an important and effective component of a patient blood management program and that computerized provider order entry algorithms may serve to maintain compliance with evidence-based transfusion guidelines. Another recent study indicated that colonic epithelial cells undergo metabolic reprogramming during their evolution to colorectal cancer, and the distinct metabolites could serve as diagnostic tools or potential targets in therapy or primary prevention.

Research Areas: blood disorders, sickle cell diseases, blood management programs, hematologic malignancies

Michael B. Streiff Lab

The Michael B. Streiff Lab conducts clinical and laboratory research of thrombophilia associated with malignancy. We are interested in the application of novel coagulation assays to explore the pathogenesis of thrombosis and the development of strategies to enhance the clinical management of anti-thrombotic agents.

Research Areas: cancer, thrombophilia

Rakhi Naik Lab

The Rakhi Naik Lab studies sickle cell disease. We focus on complications related to the disease, including chronic kidney disease and venous thromboembolism. By defining the risks and factors for diseases related to the sickle cell trait, we hope to improve genetic counseling and screening and treatment recommendations. Other research in the lab examines the epidemiology and unique mechanisms of thrombosis in patients with hemoglobin disorders. Specifically, we are trying to identify mechanisms of hypercoagulability and develop treatments for patients with hemoglobinopathies.

Research Areas: epidemiology, sickle cell diseases, kidney diseases, venous thromboembolism, hemoglobin disorders, genetic counseling

Robert Brodsky Lab

Investigators in the Robert Brodsky Lab study normal and abnormal hematopoiesis, particularly mutations of the phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis class A (PIG-A) gene in aplastic anemia. Our team has developed a new diagnostic assay for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) that is based on the toxin Aaeromonas hydrophila.

Research Areas: high-dose cyclophosphamide, hematopoiesis, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, aplastic anemia

Satish Shanbhag Lab

Research interests in the Satish Shanbhag Lab include lymphoid malignancies, particularly low-grade lymphomas, cutaneous T cell lymphoma and mycosis fungoides.

Research Areas: low-grade lymphomas, lymphoid malignancies, mycosis fungoides, cutaneous T cell lymphoma

Sophie Lanzkron Lab

Work in the Sophie Lanzkron Lab is focused on understanding the barriers to care for adults with sickle cell disease. Our research has shown that despite the approval of hydroxyurea treatment predicted to decrease hospitalizations for sickle cell disease patients' the cost of care has increased significantly in recent years. Research is ongoing to identify the factors that limit access to care for this population.

Research Areas: sickle cell diseases, patient-centered health care, hydroxyurea, health services research

Zack Wang Lab

The Wang lab focuses on the signals that direct the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, such as induced-pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, into hematopoietic and cardiovascular cells. Pluripotent stem cells hold great potential for regenerative medicine. Defining the molecular links between differentiation outcomes will provide important information for designing rational methods of stem cell manipulation.

Research Areas: pluripotent stem cells, stem cells, molecular genetics, stem cell biology, gene therapy

Aiham Albaeni Lab

Research in the Aiham Albaeni Lab primarily investigates topics surrounding out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The majority of our research explores the various factors that improve a patient’s outcome during a cardiac arrest episode that takes place outside of a hospital. Most recently, we have explored the factors that contribute to early care withdrawal and the predictors of survival with good neurological outcome within 24 hours following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Research Areas: cardiac arrest, resuscitation, heart failure, internal medicine

Amy Knight Lab

Research in the Amy Knight Lab focuses on methods by which information technology can improve the quality of health care. We investigate the role computer systems can play in expanding patient-doctor communication, streamlining healthcare tasks for both medical students and practitioners, and establishing a higher standard of care. Our studies have explored the effectiveness of semi-automating daily progress notes for improved documentation, peer assessment of professional performance among hospitalists, ways to enable patient-centered care using information technology and other topics.

Research Areas: outcomes, patient-provider relationships, internal medicine, information technology

Haruka Torok Lab

Research in the Haruka Torok Lab focuses on medical education and curriculum development projects.

Research Areas: medical education

Janet Record Lab

Research in the Janet Record Lab focuses on medical education and patient-centered care. We’re currently developing a curriculum for internal medicine residents in the inpatient general medicine service setting. The curriculum teaches residents to use hand-carried ultrasound for imaging the inferior vena cava to assess volume status.

Research Areas: medical education, patient-centered health care, imaging, internal medicine, inferior vena cava

Andrea Zachary Lab

Researchers in the Andrea Zachary Lab study the mechanisms of desensitization and the role of non-HLA antibodies in transplantation, with an ongoing focus on non-HLA targets of rejection expressed on vascular endothelial cells. We also are studying topics that include down regulation of humoral alloimmunity; variability in immunogenicity among different HLA antigens; the involvement of non-HLA-specific antibodies in transplantation; the role of AT1R antibodies in organ transplantation; and desensitization in haploidentical hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.

Research Areas: allograft rejection, transplants, human leukocyte antigens, stem cells

Annette Jackson Lab

Research in the Annette Jackson Lab focuses on the characterization of HLA and non-HLA antibodies and their role in allograft rejection. We are investigating the mechanisms involved in keeping donor HLA-specific B cells quiescent in transplant recipients following desensitization and transplantation. We also study the development of quantitative measures of immune memory to aid in donor selection and individualization of immunosuppression. We are identifying the non-HLA targets of endothelial cell reactive antibodies to allow for improved detection of these antibodies and to decipher their role in allograft injury.

Research Areas: blood disorders, allograft rejection, transplants, antibodies, HLA antibodies, immunosuppression

Mary Philogene Lab

Research in the Mary Philogene Lab focuses on the field of histocompatibility and transplant immunology. Our studies in immunogenetics have included topics such as immunologic risk factors in transplant patients, the role of non-HLA antibodies in primary graft dysfunction following cardiac transplantation, and immunosuppression withdrawal and allograft function in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Research Areas: transplant immunology, transplants, histocompatibility, immunogenetics

Mary S. Leffell Lab

Research in the Mary S. Leffell Lab focuses on transplantation immunology and immunogenetics. We have conducted population studies to examine the distribution of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and haplotypes, minor histocompatibility antigens, killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and cytokine alleles in a number of racial and ethnic groups.

Research Areas: transplants, immunology, human leukocyte antigens, alleles, immunogenetics, killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors

Adriana Andrade Lab

Research in the Adriana Andrade Lab focuses on antiretroviral therapy adherence. We also study drug interactions between antiretrovirals and complementary and alternative medicine.

Research Areas: antiretroviral therapies, drugs, complementary and alternative medicines

Amita Gupta Lab

The Amita Gupta Lab focuses on drug trials to prevent and treat HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and other co-morbidities in adults, including pregnant women and children who reside in low-income settings. We also conduct cohort studies assessing HIV, inflammation and nutrition in international settings; TB in pregnancy; and risk factors for TB in India (CTRIUMPH). We collaborate with several faculty in the Center for TB Research, Division of Infectious Diseases and the School of Public Health.

Research Areas: global health, nutrition, infectious disease, HIV, inflammation, tuberculosis

Andrea Cox Lab

Research in the Andrea Cox Lab explores the immune response in chronic viral infections, with a focus on HIV and the hepatitis C virus (HCV). In our studies, we examine the role of the immune response upon exposure to HCV by examining responses to HCV in a longitudinal, prospective group of high-risk individuals. This enables us to compare the innate, humoral and cellular immune responses to infection with clearance versus persistence. Through our findings, we seek to identify mechanisms of protective immunity against HCV infection and improve HCV vaccine design.

Research Areas: virology, vaccines, viral immunology, HIV, hepatitis C, T cells

Anne Rompalo Lab

Research in the Anne Rompalo Lab focuses on STD research and application. We recently examined the relationship between violence against women and HIV-related risk factors in women living in the United States. Past projects include a nine-year longitudinal observation study of HIV-infected women in Baltimore.

Research Areas: women, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, domestic violence

Balagopal Lab - Viral Hepatitis and Translational Virology

The Balagopal Lab has adapted high-resolution tools to study viruses in situ. Specifically, we were the first to quantify hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in single hepatocytes by developing single-cell laser capture microdissection (scLCM) and integrating this tool with highly sensitive quantitative real-time PCR. We reported that HCV infects a minority of hepatocytes that are found in geospatial clusters. More recently, we (PIs Balagopal and Thio) integrated scLCM with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to reveal the first observations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection at single cell resolution in the liver. We found that HBV infects nearly all hepatocytes prior to antiviral therapy. However, during antiviral therapy, HBV infection is diminished while viral transcription is markedly attenuated.

Our lab has also focused on HIV-1 infection and immune activation for over a decade. Most recently, we have studied type 1 interferon responses to HIV-1 using RNA sequencing (RNAseq). Using th...is technology, we identified novel interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that are associated with HIV-1 restriction in vivo. view more

Research Areas: HIV-1, hepatitis B, hepatitis C

Center for Point of Care Tests for Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The mission of the Center for Point-of-Care Tests for Sexually Transmitted Diseases is to create and test unique methods for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases, including the home delivery of over-the-counter (OTC) tests to end-users via the Internet. Additionally, we develop novel approaches for measuring acceptability and accuracy of point-of-care and OTC-type assays in primary care settings with comparisons between trained and untrained users.

Research Areas: gonorrhea, chlamydia, infectious disease, mycoplasma genitalium, sexually transmitted diseases, trichomonas vaginalis

Chloe Thio Lab

Research in the Chloe Thio lab focuses on several areas. First, HBV virology and immunology in HBV monoinfected and HIV-HBV co-infected individuals that will ultimately help develop a cure for HBV. Second, HCV infection in men who have sex with men. Third, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with a focus on HIV-infected individuals. Fourth, host genetic determinants of spontaneous HBV recovery and HCV clearance.

Research Areas: HIV-HBV co-infection, hepatitis B, genomics, hepatitis C, fatty liver

Christine Durand Lab

Dr. Christine Durand, assistant professor of medicine and oncology and member of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, is involved in clinical and translational research focused on individuals infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus who require cancer and transplant therapies. Her current research efforts include looking at outcomes of hepatitis C treatment after solid organ transplant, the potential use of organs from HIV-infected donors for HIV-infected solid organ transplant candidates, and HIV cure strategies including bone marrow transplantation.

Dr. Durand is supported by multiple grants:

• R01 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to study HIV-to-HIV organ transplantation in the US.
• K23 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to study antiretroviral therapy during bone marrow transplant in HIV-1 infection.
• U01 from the NIAID to study HIV-to-HIV deceased donor kidney transplantation.
U01 from the NIAID to study HIV-to-HIV deceased ...donor liver transplantation. view more

Research Areas: Bone Marrow Transplantation, transplants, infectious disease, AIDS, HIV, Solid Organ Transplantation, hepatitis C

Cynthia Sears Laboratory

Work in the Cynthia Sears Laboratory focuses on the bacterial contributions to the development of human colon cancer and the impact of the microbiome on other cancers and the therapy of cancer. The current work involves mouse and human studies to define how enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, pks+ Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, biofilms and the colonic microbiota induce chronic colonic inflammation and colon cancer. Prospective human studies of the microbiome and biofilms in screening colonoscopy are in progress as are studies to determine if and how the microbiome impacts the response of individuals with cancer to immunotherapy and other cancer therapies.

Research Areas: epidemiology, AIDS, microbiome, colon cancer, enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, chronic colonic inflammation

David Thomas Lab

The David Thomas Lab oversees clinical research projects that aim to understand the natural history and pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection. A special area of clinical and research focus is liver disease in HIV-infected people.

Research Areas: HIV, hepatitis C, liver diseases

Andrew Feinberg Laboratory

The Feinberg Laboratory studies the epigenetic basis of normal development and disease, including cancer, aging and neuropsychiatric illness. Early work from our group involved the discovery of altered DNA methylation in cancer as well as common epigenetic (methylation and imprinting) variants in the population that may be responsible for a significant population-attributable risk of cancer.

Over the last few years, we have pioneered the field of epigenomics (i.e., epigenetics at a genome-scale level), founding the first NIH-supported NIH epigenome center in the country and developing many novel tools for molecular and statistical analysis. Current research examines the mechanisms of epigenetic modification, the epigenetic basis of cancer, the invention of new molecular, statistical, and epidemiological tools for genome-scale epigenetics and the epigenetic basis of neuropsychiatric disease, including schizophrenia and autism.

Research Areas: autism, cancer, epigenetics, schizophrenia, human development, aging, DNA, genomics, neuropsychiatric disease

C. John Sperati Lab

Dr. Sperati’s group focuses on complement mediated kidney disorders, glomerular disease, and renal arterial disease secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia. His team has a particular interest in thrombotic microangiopathies involving the complement system.

Research Areas: kidney diseases, fibromuscular dysplasia, hypertension, hyperaldosteronism, atherosclerosis

Deidra Crews Lab

Dr. Crews’ team focuses on health disparities in chronic kidney disease. We have studied how social determinants of health, such as poverty and healthful food access, affect disparities in kidney disease outcomes. Our research on end-stage renal disease includes studies of the best timing and environment to initiate dialysis among vulnerable populations.

Research Areas: poverty, chronic kidney disease, health disparities

Duvuru Geetha Lab

Dr. Geetha’s team focuses on renal diseases in patients with systemic vasculitis as well as BK virus nephropathy in patients who have undergone renal transplant. Our studies include clinical trials on the effectiveness of rituximab versus cyclosporine in treating idiopathic membranous nephropathy and a multinational study of belimumab with azathioprine for maintaining remission of granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis. We also have conducted research on the treatment of ANCA vasculitis, particularly in kidney transplant patients.

Research Areas: granulomatosis with polyangiitis, kidney diseases, vasculitis, kidney transplants, Glomerulonephritis, nephrology

Edward Kraus Lab

Dr. Kraus’ team investigates the factors that impact the long-term success or failure of kidney transplants as well as barriers to nephrology care and transplants in minority populations. We research many topics dealing with kidney transplant rejection, including diagnostic criteria, infection risk and incompatibility factors. Our lab also has a longstanding interest in pancreas transplants and has conducted research to establish guidelines for diagnosing antibody-mediated rejection of pancreas allografts-updated Banff grading schema.

Research Areas: kidney transplants, nephrology, health disparities, pancreas transplants

Fawaz Al Ammary Lab

Dr. Al Ammary’s research focuses on (1) increasing live kidney donation safely to ensure optimal outcomes for donors and (2) advancing utilization of digital health technology and electronic health records to impact the precision and value of health care for live kidney donors and kidney transplant recipients.

Research Areas: international live kidney donors, telemedicine, kidney transplant outcomes, hypertension and kidney function in live kidney donors, live kidney donation, preventable readmissions

Hamid Rabb Lab

Dr. Rabb’s lab is involved in translational research aimed at understanding the molecular pathogenesis of kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury. The lab is interested in the development of novel treatments for kidney IRI.

Research Areas: kidney diseases, kidney ischemia/reperfusion injuries, nephrology

Michelle M. Estrella Lab

The Michelle M. Estrella Lab conducts epidemiological and translational studies of kidney disease. We are particularly interested in HIV-related kidney disease and also study kidney injury biomarkers to determine their utility in clinical practice.

Research Areas: epidemiology, biomarkers, kidney diseases, HIV

Mohamed Atta Lab

Dr. Atta and his research team explore the epidemiological and clinical interventions of a variety of kidney diseases. Our goal is not only to advance the understanding of many kidney diseases but also to capitalize on novel discoveries of basic science to treat a wide range of rare and common kidney disorders.

• Multi-international observational study of a rare form of amyloid (LECT2 amyloid) to understand its natural history with the ultimate interest of treating this condition.


• Our group has launched a project investigating the impact of COVID19 on the kidney to identify risk factors influencing outcome across different clinical phenotypes


• In collaboration with the Division of Infectious Diseases and the School of Public Health, our research has focused on the epidemiology of HIV and kidney disease. We also study clinical markers and contributing factors in the progression of kidney disease, and the association between kidney disease and h...eart disease.


• Our research group is participating in a multicenter consortium serving as a clinical core site to study the pathogenesis of HIV-associated kidney disease by providing well-characterized clinical specimens and corresponding clinical and laboratory data.

Research Areas: kidney diseases, HIV, hepatitis C

Morgan Grams Lab

Dr. Morgan Grams and her colleagues are involved in a wide range of clinical research projects applying quantitative methods to multidimensional data to develop actionable clinical indicators. Along with Dr. Josef Coresh, Dr. Grams leads the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Prognosis Consortium, a global consortium of over 200 investigators and >11 million participants (https://ckdpc.org). They have developed and validated several risk calculators that are now widely used in clinical practice (https://ckdpcrisk.org). She holds a joint appointment in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she is a member of the Center of Drug Safety and Effectiveness. Her research in pharmacoepidemiology leverages electronic health records from multiple countries to evaluate the risks and benefits of commonly used medications across the spectrum of kidney function. Together with her team, Dr. Grams also focuses on identifying targetab...le pathways or biomarkers that underlie the development of chronic kidney disease using multi-omic approaches.



Dr. Grams received the 2019 Frederick Brancati Mentoring Award. Currently, four of her mentees are supported by NIH K awards. More of their research can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/browse/collection/40940579/?sort=date&direction=descending view more

Research Areas: organ donors, hyperglycemia, biomarkers, chronic kidney disease, health disparities

Nada Alachkar Lab

Dr. Alachkar's research focuses on recurrent glomerular diseases post kidney transplantation. In particular, she has been studying recurrent FSGS post kidney transplant in several, partially NIH funded, prospective research projects that focuses on circulating factors associate with recurrent FSGS and new therapies of recurrent FSGS; in addition to the outcome of the disease. Also, Dr. Alachkar is the Chair of Banff recurrent GN working group that focus on the pathological changes of recurrent GN.


Dr. Alachkar's other research focus is incompatible living and diseases donor transplant. She has several ongoing research studies that focus on AMR and the outcome of patients with positive donor specific antibodies.

Research Areas: Focal segmental glomerular sclerosis in the transplanted kidney, Recurrent glomerular diseases post kidney transplant, Incompatible kidney transplant

Grant (Xuguang) Tao Lab

Research in the Grant (Xuguang) Tao Lab explores environmental and occupational epidemiology topics, including workers' compensation and injuries, and nosocomial infections. We conduct research through clinical trials and systematic literature reviews, and also use cancer registry data and GIS applications in environmental epidemiological research. Our recent studies have explored topics such as the effectiveness of lumbar epidural steroid injections following lumbar surgery, the effect of physician-dispensed medication on workers' compensation claim outcomes and how the use of opioid and psychotropic medications for workers' compensation claims impacts lost work time.

Research Areas: epidemiology, drug safety, cancer, nosocomial infections, GIS applications

Alison E. Turnbull Lab

Research in the Alison E. Turnbull Lab focuses on patient-clinician interactions. We study decision-making processes for ICU patients and their families and focus on the long-term outcomes of ICU survivors. Additional research examines ways to improve end-of-life care for patients.

Research Areas: epidemiology, palliative care, medical decision making, ICU

Brian Garibaldi Lab

Research in the Brian Garibaldi Lab focuses on acute lung injury (ALI) resolution. Recently, we evaluated the mechanisms underlying mobility therapy and found that therapeutic exercise reduces neutrophilic lung injury and skeletal muscle wasting in ALI mice.

Research Areas: pulmonary medicine, acute lung injury

Charles Wiener Lab

The Charles Wiener Lab primarily conducts research on pulmonary circulation and hypoxia as well as respiratory muscle function in patients with neuromuscular diseases. Our recent studies have included investigating the treatment of pericardial effusions in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and examining the use of non-invasive ventilation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We also have an interest in medical education research. Our work in this area has included reviewing the role of academic medical centers in emerging health care markets.

Research Areas: respiratory system, neuromuscular diseases, ALS, pulmonary medicine, hypertension, hypoxia

Christian Merlo Lab

Work in the Christian Merlo Lab includes studies on pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, outcomes in lung transplantation and treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF), and HIV-related pulmonary disease. We have studied methods of diagnosing and managing pulmonary arteriovenous malformations as well as the outcomes of adult CF patients who are infected with multiple antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our recent research has also explored recipient and donor variables in the success or failure of lung transplants, and ways in which national healthcare delivery systems impact lung transplant outcomes for CF patients.

Research Areas: cystic fibrosis, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, HIV, lung disease, lung transplant

David Feller-Kopman Lab

Research interests in the David Feller-Kopman Lab include improving the multidisciplinary treatment of patients with complex airway disease, investigating the physiology and pathophysiology of non-malignant central airway obstruction and pleural disease, and developing novel methods to teach procedural skills.

Research Areas: medical education, non-malignant central airway obstruction, pathophysiology, physiology, COPD

David Hager Lab

Research in the David Hager Lab focuses on critical care medicine. Recent studies includes an analysis of advances in the management of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the development of a targeted real-time early warning score predicting septic shock. Other interests include ventilator-induced lung injury and high-frequency ventilation.

Research Areas: critical care medicine, acute respiratory distress syndrome, high-frequency ventilation, ventilator-induced lung injury

Edward Chen Lab

Research efforts in the Edward Chen Lab focus on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and granulomatous inflammation as well as clinical and translational studies in sarcoidosis. Our studies have included topics such as the etiologies of sarcoidosis, hylleraas hydride binding energy in diatomic electron affinities, and molecular convergence of neurodevelopmental disorders. We have also investigated the use of quantitative mass spectrometric analysis to better understand the mechanisms of phospho-priming and auto-activation of the checkpoint kinase Rad53 in vivo.

Research Areas: pulmonary medicine, sarcoidosis, granulomatous inflammation, pulmonary fibrosis

Elizabeth Daugherty Lab

The Elizabeth Daugherty Lab conducts research on patient safety, critical care infection control and critical care disaster response. We investigate methods of improving patient safety through improved infection control, with a focus on clinical outcomes, nosocomial infection rates and the individual and organizational obstacles to personal protective equipment adherence.

Research Areas: critical care medicine, patient safety, infection control, nosocomial infections

Elizabeth Wagner Lab

The Elizabeth Wagner Lab conducts research on several topics within the field of pulmonary medicine. Our key areas of investigation include angiogenesis of the lung and its dependence upon systemic vascularization to regions without pulmonary perfusion as well as the role of bronchial circulation in the uptake of hydrophilic particles that are delivered to the airway surface. In addition, we are conducting several specific studies that examine the relationship between the bronchial vasculature and the influx of inflammatory cells to a patientÕs airways.

Research Areas: lung ischemia, pulmonary medicine, vascular remodeling, vascular biology, angiogenesis