Breathing Life into the Tiniest Babies
When Jeffrey Whitsett, MD, began his remarkable research career at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 1976, he was entering a field that was on the cusp of great discovery and advancement. In the ensuing three decades, Dr. Whitsett, now Chief of the Section of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology at Cincinnati Children’s, has been both a witness and one of the key contributors to an era of enormous breakthroughs in the field of pulmonary biology.
Breakthrough Results in Lung Function
Throughout his career, Dr. Whitsett has been successful at making discoveries in fundamental molecular biology that translate into diagnoses and therapies in treating human disease. His laboratory is internationally recognized for its research on lung development and disease that has transformed the treatment of infants and children around the world.
Their pioneering work began with study of the surfactant proteins A, B, C, and D, cloning the proteins’ genes, and clarifying their roles in lung function at birth and thereafter.
While Dr. Whitsett’s laboratory has focused its attention on lung development and pulmonary surfactant, the work has had a farreaching impact in our understanding of pulmonary diseases in general. His laboratory has contributed to identifying a number of genes critical for lung formation, function and repair.
“We have identified new molecules that provide insights into the disease processes associated with lung diseases like asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema,” he says. “We have been able to take this information and apply it to cancer research by developing models that identify genes and processes involved in lung tumor formation.”
This work led to developing specific antibodies used in the clinical diagnosis of lung cancer and animal models useful in the study of both rare and common lung diseases.
Early Research Transforms Care
After three decades of being involved in the biological sciences, producing over 420 peer-reviewed publications (and counting), and receiving multiple awards and recognition for his contributions to medical science, Dr. Whitsett is in a unique position to reflect on the transformative changes in both medical care and biological sciences that have taken place since the mid-1970s.
“The completion of the human genome and advances in molecular and cell biology have revolutionized the study of human diseases,” he says. “In 1976, we knew the genetic causes of a few diseases. Now, we know about thousands. We are able to make prenatal and genetic diagnoses that were never before possible.”
The challenge now, he says, comes from understanding the complexity of the genes and processes that govern cell behavior and organ function and that will lead to preventing, diagnosing and treating disease. He believes Cincinnati Children’s is well-positioned to lead the way in this new era.
“Our ability to integrate basic and clinical research with patient care creates a unique environment for making fundamental advances in understanding disease processes,” he says.
