Dr. Kurt A Schalper's lab at Yale University focuses on studying the immune environment in lung cancer to improve diagnosis and treatment. We analyze how immune cells interact with tumors to better select which patients will benefit from immunotherapy. By investigating the characteristics of tumors and their surrounding immune cells, the research aims to develop more effective cancer treatments.

Dr. Houfu Guo's lab at the University of Kentucky focuses on understanding how certain enzymes modify collagen and contribute to the spread of lung cancer. Specifically, they are investigating the role of a newly identified enzyme, lysyl hydroxylase 2b (LH2b), in promoting cancer metastasis. By studying its structure and function, the lab aims to reveal new therapeutic targets for treating lung cancer and potentially other cancer types as well.

Dr. Marcin Imielinski's lab at NYU School of Medicine researches how the original cell type from which lung cancer arises affects the disease's behavior and treatment. They focus on understanding the genetic changes that accompany lung adenocarcinoma, a common and deadly form of lung cancer. By analyzing mutations in lung cancer samples, the lab aims to identify the cell of origin for these tumors and improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Stephen L. Nishimura's lab at UCSF focuses on understanding how the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) cytokine regulates fibrosis and inflammation in the lungs. Their research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms of TGF-β activation to develop more targeted and effective therapies for lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, which currently have few treatment options.

Dr. Julie Gunnells Ledford’s lab at the University of Arizona focuses on understanding how a protein called CC16 influences lung health, especially in the context of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The research aims to uncover how CC16 helps defend against respiratory infections and how deficiencies in this protein during early life can affect long-term lung function. The lab investigates both the immune response to viruses like Rhinovirus and how early life infections can lead to changes in lung development and disease progression.

Dr. Aleksandra Tata's lab at Duke University studies how the cells in the lungs repair themselves and how aging affects this process. By focusing on a protein called Tau, which is important for cell structure and function, the lab aims to understand the mechanisms behind lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis and COPD. This research could lead to new treatments that help restore lung health in aging populations.

Dr. Purushothama Rao Tata's lab at Duke University studies how cells in the lungs communicate and repair themselves after injury, focusing on understanding lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis. The research explores how balance in cellular responses and specific molecular signals can influence the healing process in lung tissue. By uncovering these mechanisms, the lab aims to identify potential new treatments to enhance lung repair and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. David C. Lyon's lab at UC Irvine focuses on advancing treatments for vision loss due to retinal degeneration diseases like age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The research explores the use of retinal progenitor tissue transplants to restore vision by investigating how these transplants integrate into the visual system and influence higher-level visual processing in the brain. The ultimate aim is to improve vision among patients who have lost significant retinal tissue.

Dr. Amit Sharma's research lab focuses on understanding how HIV-1 adapts to macaques, as these animals are used to model HIV infection for vaccine studies. By studying chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs) and the immune responses in macaques, the lab aims to determine why existing models fail to replicate efficiently and how this can be improved. The ultimate goal is to enhance our understanding of HIV infection and help design better vaccine strategies.

The research lab led by Stuart John Macdonald focuses on understanding complex traits and genetic diseases using a novel resource based on Drosophila, or fruit flies. By creating a large, diverse set of genetic strains, the lab aims to identify genetic variations that contribute to human health issues. The work involves advanced genetic mapping techniques and aims to fill critical gaps left by traditional genome-wide association studies, ultimately enhancing our knowledge of disease mechanisms and improving diagnostics and therapeutics.

Dr. Everardo Macias's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding and combating neuroendocrine prostate cancer, a severe form of prostate cancer that often emerges in patients who have become resistant to standard treatments. His research aims to explore a specific target, a protein known as TTK, which is crucial in cell division and is overexpressed in this type of cancer. Through a combination of lab studies and animal models, the team investigates how targeting TTK can slow cancer growth and improve treatment outcomes for patients.

Dr. Michael Ferdig's lab focuses on understanding drug resistance in malaria, particularly how the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, adapts to treatments like artemisinin and its partner drug lumefantrine. Through experimental genetic crosses and advanced genetic techniques, the team seeks to pinpoint the specific genes that contribute to resistance. This research is crucial for public health, as rising drug resistance threatens malaria control efforts in Africa, where the disease remains a major health crisis.

Dr. John T. Harty's lab focuses on understanding how malaria impacts the immune system, particularly how prior exposure to the disease can hinder effective vaccination. The research primarily investigates CD8 T cell responses and the role of hemozoin, a byproduct of malaria infection, in compromising these immune responses. By studying these mechanisms, the lab aims to improve vaccine efficacy against malaria, especially in regions where the disease is endemic.

David J Lampe's research lab at Duquesne University focuses on combating malaria by engineering bacteria that can live in mosquitoes and help prevent the transmission of malaria parasites. The lab is developing new bacterial strains that do not have antibiotic resistance traits, aiming to make them safe and effective for release into the environment. By studying how these bacteria interact with mosquito gut microbiota, the lab seeks to enhance the natural defenses against malaria while ensuring that the bacteria persist in the wild without disrupting local ecosystems.

Dr. Vasant Muralidharan's lab at the University of Georgia focuses on understanding how a malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, modifies its proteins to survive and thrive inside human red blood cells. His research investigates the unique ways this parasite traffics proteins without using common eukaryotic mechanisms, aiming to uncover potential targets for new antimalarial therapies. This work is crucial given the rising drug resistance among malaria parasites.

James Walter Kazura's lab focuses on understanding how the immune system manages subclinical malaria infections in children in sub-Saharan Africa. They investigate the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses of innate immune cells in children who have malaria without showing symptoms. This research aims to identify mechanisms that could aid in malaria control and eradication efforts, especially in school-age children, who play a key role in malaria transmission.

Dr. Adam N. Goldfarb's lab focuses on understanding how certain anti-malarial drugs, like primaquine, interact with red blood cells in individuals who have a genetic deficiency known as G6PD deficiency. This condition affects millions and can lead to severe anemia when taking medications that are otherwise effective against malaria. By studying specific enzymes involved in this process using genetically modified mice, the lab aims to identify better treatment strategies that could reduce harmful side effects in affected patients.

Dr. Jennifer Manuzak's lab at Tulane University focuses on understanding the interactions between HIV and malaria, particularly in pregnant women. By studying how these infections affect the immune system, the lab aims to identify potential treatments to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants. This research is especially important in areas where both diseases are common, as it could lead to new therapeutic strategies that reduce risks associated with these infections during pregnancy.

Dr. Xiaobo Mao's lab at Johns Hopkins University investigates how environmental pollutants, specifically air pollution, may contribute to the development of dementia, including Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. The lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms through which these pollutants affect the brain and lead to cognitive decline. They explore the role of proteins related to neurodegenerative diseases, aiming to identify potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Dr. Mark A. Marzinke's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on HIV prevention through innovative laboratory research and support for clinical trials. The lab plays a crucial role in the HIV Prevention Trials Network, leading efforts to evaluate and implement new strategies for preventing HIV infection, including drug development and testing methodologies. With an emphasis on quality assurance and collaboration across various stakeholders, the lab aims to identify effective and scalable interventions to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic.