Research Training and Opportunities
Basic research efforts in the Pulmonary Medicine Fellowship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center are concentrated on the following:
- Regulation and dysregulation of airway inflammation
- Host/pathogen interface in the cystic fibrosis airway
- Genetic modifiers of cystic fibrosis pathogenesis and of CFTR function
- Lung stem and progenitor cell biology
- Airway epithelial cell differentiation and repair
- Airway remodeling
Fundamental Basic Science
Christopher Karp, MD, is studying Lipoxins (LX) as anti-inflammatory mediators in cystic fibrosis. Julio Aliberti, MD, will be expanding upon this work, studying the pathophysiological and therapeutic roles of anti-inflammatory lipid mediators in cystic fibrosis lung disease. Jeff Whitsett, MD, is studying Functional Genomic/Bioinformatic Approaches to CFTR which, have led to the identification of genes and pathways in the lung influenced by the lack of CFTR or the presence of delta-F508 CFTR. Dr. Whitsett is also studying the Transcriptional control of goblet cell hyperplasia, mucin expression, innate host defense, Stem Cell Biology and exploring the potential for stem cell/progenitor cell replacement for cystic fibrosis. Daniel Hassett, MD, is studying Pseudomonas Proteomics and Genomics, regarding the regulation of anaerobic metabolism and gene expression in P. aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis lung disease. William Hardie, MD, is studying the Biology of Lung Fibrosis through TGF-alpha transgenic mouse model.
Fundamental Translational Research
Dr. Whitsett, is studying the Development of rSP-D for Treatment of cystic fibrosis. Tim Weaver, MD, and Henry Akimbi, MD, are studying the Development of Lysozyme for Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease. John Cuppoletti, MD, is studying Alternative Channels, ClC2. Dr. Hassett, is studying the Anaerobic Killing of mucoid P. aeruginosa. Translational application of this is being pursued. Dr. Whitsett is investigating Opportunities and Barriers for Gene Therapy. A "Center for Gene Therapy of Lung Diseases" was established and funded by the NIH to explore the feasibility of gene transfer in the lung and to identify such barriers to gene therapy. Bruce Trapnell, MD, is studying serum SP-D as a biomarker of lung disease in cystic fibrosis.
Clinical Research
Cincinnati Children's has been a member of the CFF-TDN since its inception in 1998. Dr. Trapnell is Co-Director of the local center. James Acton, MD, Jamie Wooldridge, MD, and Patricia Joseph, MD, serve as principle investigators on various clinical trials. As part of the CFF-TDN, the pediatric pulmonary division at Cincinnati Children's has participated in dozens of multicenter clinical trials in cystic fibrosis, enrolling hundreds of patients and advancing clinical research in the field of cystic fibrosis.
Quality Improvement and Outcomes Research
Michael Seid, PhD, is Director of Pulmonary Outcomes Research at Cincinnati Children's. Dr. Seid is an NIH-funded researcher, with a primary appointment in Pulmonary Medicine and a secondary appointment in Clinical Effectiveness. This dual appointment will ensure successful bridging of QI to outcomes research. Dr. Seid is a core faculty member in the Center for Health Care Quality (CHCQ) at Cincinnati Children's, led by Peter Margolis, MD.
The Cincinnati Cystic Fibrosis Center was chosen by medical center leadership to be a pilot team for the project, Pursuing Perfection: Raising the Bar for Healthcare Performance sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The Cystic Fibrosis Team has applied systems-based tools and principles to effect desired change in many areas of cystic fibrosis care. The center continues to be an innovator in data transparency and partnering with patients and families to effect system changes that lead to improvements in cystic fibrosis care and outcomes.
