The Amita Gupta Lab focuses on drug trials to prevent and treat HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and othe...r 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. view more

The Lane laboratory is focused on understanding molecular mechanisms underlying chronic rhinosi...nusitis, particularly the pathogenesis of nasal polyps, as well as inflammation on the olfactory epithelium. Diverse techniques in molecular biology, immunology, and physiology are utilized to study epithelial cell innate immunity, olfactory loss, and response to viral infection. Ongoing work explores how epithelial cells of the sinuses and olfactory mucosa participate in the immune response and contribute to chronic inflammation. The lab creates and employs transgenic mouse models of chronic nasal/sinus inflammation to support research in this area. Collaborations are in place with the School of Public Health to explore mechanisms of anti-viral immunity in influenza and COVID-19. view more

Research in the Bradley Undem Lab centers around the hypothesis that the peripheral nervous sys...tem 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. view more

The Brain Health Program is a multidisciplinary team of faculty from the departments of neurolo...gy, psychiatry, epidemiology, and radiology lead by Leah Rubin and Jennifer Coughlin. In the hope of revealing new directions for therapies, the group studies molecular biomarkers identified from tissue and brain imaging that are associated with memory problems related to HIV infection, aging, dementia, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. The team seeks to advance policies and practices to optimize brain health in vulnerable populations while destigmatizing these brain disorders.

Current and future projects include research on: the roles of the stress response, glucocorticoids, and inflammation in conditions that affect memory and the related factors that make people protected or or vulnerable to memory decline; new mobile apps that use iPads to improve our detection of memory deficits; clinical trials looking at short-term effects of low dose hydrocortisone and randomized to 28 days of treatment; imaging brain injury and repair in NFL players to guide players and the game; and the role of inflammation in memory deterioration in healthy aging, patients with HIV, and other neurodegenerative conditions. view more

In conjunction with the Molecular Imaging Center, the Center for Infection and Inflammation Ima...ging Research core provides state-of-the art small animal imaging equipment, including PET, SPECT, CT and US, to support the wide range of scientific projects within the diverse research community of the Johns Hopkins University and beyond. Trained technologists assist investigators in the use of these facilities. view more

The Center for Nanomedicine engineers drug and gene delivery technologies that have significant... implications for the prevention, treatment and cure of many major diseases facing the world today. Specifically, we are focusing on the eye, central nervous system, respiratory system, women's health, gastrointestinal system, cancer, and inflammation.

We are a unique translational nanotechnology effort located that brings together engineers, scientists and clinicians working under one roof on translation of novel drug and gene delivery technologies view more

Dr. Parikh's research focuses on the translation and validation of novel biomarkers for the dia...gnosis and prognosis of acute kidney injury. Progress in kidney diseases has been hamstrung by significant heterogeneity within the current disease definitions, which are largely based on serum creatinine. Dr. Parikh's research has addressed this critical challenge by developing biomarkers of renal tubular injury, repair, and inflammation to dissect this heterogeneity. He has assembled multicenter longitudinal prospective cohorts for translational research studies across several clinical settings of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease for the efficient translation of novel biomarkers.



His research is dedicated to the process of applying discoveries generated in the laboratory and in preclinical experiments, the development of clinical studies, and the design of clinical trials. Dr. Parikh's studies have refined the clinical definition in perioperative acute kidney injury and hepatorenal syndrome, developed strategies to reduce kidney discard in deceased donor transplantation, and advanced regulatory approvals of kidney injury biomarkers. He has also developed biomarkers to identify rapid progressors of early diabetic kidney disease before derangements in serum creatinine. Dr. Parikh's research goal is to translate our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms into clinical practice and improve the outcomes in patients with kidney disease.



Dr. Parikh has also been the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2017 Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Nephrology.
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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.

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The Devreotes Laboratory is engaged in genetic analysis of chemotaxis in eukaryotic cells. Our ...long-term goal is a complete description of the network controlling chemotactic behavior. We are analyzing combinations of deficiencies to understand interactions among network components and carrying out additional genetic screens to identify new pathways involved in chemotaxis. A comprehensive understanding of this fascinating process should lead to control of pathological conditions such as inflammation and cancer metastasis. view more

Research in the Edgar Miller Lab focuses on nutrition, hypertension and kidney disease. Current... projects include a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute study on dietary carbohydrate and glycemic index effects on markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and kidney function; and a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases randomized controlled trial that examines the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on urine protein excretion in diabetic kidney disease. view more

Research efforts in the Edward Chen Lab focus on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and granu...lomatous 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. view more

The Franco D’Alessio Lab investigates key topics within the fields of critical care, internal a...nd pulmonary medicine. We primarily explore immunological determinants of acute lung inflammation and repair. Our lab also investigates age-dependent lung immune response in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), regulatory T-cells in lung injury and repair, and modulation of alveolar macrophage innate immune response in ARDS. view more

Research in the Mark Liu Lab explores several areas of pulmonary and respiratory medicine. Our ...studies primarily deal with allergic inflammation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, specifically immunologic responses to asthma. We have worked to develop a microfluidic device with integrated ratiometric oxygen sensors to enable long-term control and monitoring of both chronic and cyclical hypoxia. In addition, we conduct research on topics such as the use of magnetic resonance angiography in evaluating intracranial vascular lesions and tumors as well as treatment of osteoporosis by deep sea water through bone regeneration. view more

The Maryam Jahromi Lab researches infectious diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, endocard...itis, viral hemorrhagic fevers, brucellosis, Clostridium difficile and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. We are particularly interested in the impact of the influenza vaccine on systemic inflammation. Recent areas of focus include the relationship between influenza vaccination and cardiovascular outcomes, the emergence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Iran, and prospects for vaccines and therapies for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. view more

Research in the Nicola Heller Lab focuses on the immunobiology of macrophages. Our team explore...s how these cells impact diseases with an inflammatory element, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Using a variety of techniques, including molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, mouse models and more, we study the role of IL-4/IL-13 signaling in asthma and allergic disease, as well as the role of alternatively activated macrophages (AAM) in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. Currently, we are researching the links between asthma and obesity, with a focus on the roles of gender and race. view more

Research in the Peter Abadir Lab focuses on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), a signaling pat...hway that regulates blood pressure and has been linked independently to both aging and inflammation. We’re particularly interested in changes in RAS that occur with aging. We also study signal transduction and the role of the crosstalk between angiotensin II receptor in aging and are interested in understanding the function of angiotensin II in the process of vascular aging. view more

Work in the Philip Smith Lab explores several key topics within the field of sleep medicine. We... investigate the role of obesity and neural control in sleep-disordered breathing as well as the impact of metabolic function on sleep apnea. We also research the ways in which HIV and its treatments impact a patient’s sleep. Our studies have included the effects of HIV and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on both sleep and daytime function as well as the relationship between systemic inflammation and sleep apnea in men with HIV. view more

The Jia lab performs basic and translational research into the mechanisms of and therapeutic st...rategy for viral and bacterial infection-induced inflammatory lung diseases, one of the leading causes of death in pulmonary diseases, especially for the ongoing pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 mediated COVID-19. Our work has identified novel roles of Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the inflammatory response to viral and bacterial lung infection and its complex contributions into the pathogenesis and disease progression and outcome of COVID-19. In seeking to translate these findings to clinical studies, we have been working on a collaboration with other investigators, developing novel diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic tools in combating the devastating COVID-19, even in the era of effective vaccine prevention. These studies are funded by NIAID. view more

The primary area of statistical expertise in the Qian-Li Xue Lab is the development and applica...tion of statistical methods for: (1) handling the truncation of information on underlying or unobservable outcomes (e.g., disability) as a result of screening, (2) missing data, including outcome (e.g., frailty) censoring by a competing risk (e.g., mortality) and (3) trajectory analysis of multivariate outcomes. Other areas of methodologic research interests include multivariate, latent variable models. In Women's Health and Aging Studies, we have closely collaborated with scientific investigators on the design and analysis of longitudinal data relating biomarkers of inflammation, hormonal dysregulation and micronutrient deficiencies to the development and progression of frailty and disability, as well as characterizing the natural history of change in cognitive and physical function over time. view more

Work in the Rachel Damico Lab explores topics within the fields of vascular biology and pulmona...ry medicine, with a focus on acute lung injury and apoptosis in lung diseases. Our studies have included examining idiopathic and scleroderma-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension, vascular receptor autoantibodies, and the link between inflammation and the Warburg phenomenon in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. We have also researched the inhibitory factor of macrophage migration and its governing of endothelial cell sensitivity to LPS-induced apoptosis. view more