BLR&D Research Career Scientist Application

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My primary research interests address chronic inflammatory lung disease, and the impact that behavioral and environmental exposures play in the compromise of lung innate defense against pathologic lung infections and injury. Utilizing pre-clinical mouse models and state-of-the-art molecular, biochemical, and cellular approaches, I collaborate closely with pulmonologists who practice at the VA to conduct relevant pre-clinical research that can be used to address current clinical concerns. I translate my findings to Veterans’ health using a well- characterized human lung cell and tissue biobank obtained from our lung transplant program. We have an existing cohort of Veterans with rural/agricultural occupational exposures to conduct relevant studies to our service region. There are 3 major research projects currently underway that impact veterans’ health: Malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde adducts and lung injury. Alcohol abuse causing increased susceptibility to pneumonia has been known for over 200 years. Because the majority (>90%) individuals misusing alcohol smoke cigarettes, we study the combination lung injury effects of both cigarettes and alcohol. We identified that the lungs represent a unique environment for the formation of stable malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde protein adducts (MAA adducts), but only under conditions of combined cigarette smoke and alcohol exposure. These MAA adducts cause airway epithelial cell cilia slowing and impair the innate pathogen clearance from the lung. Surfactant protein D (SPD) is a major lung protein that gets adducted when lung aldehyde concentrations are elevated during combined smoke and alcohol exposure and SPD-MAA adducts are detected in the lung only in drinkers who also smoke, leading to alterations in innate lung defense. (Funded by BX003635). Veterans- centric COVID-19 research. The pathogenesis of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and clinical outcomes from COVID 19 are far worse in individuals with certain pre-existing conditions and those of advanced age. It is essential to the health of Veterans to fully define which at-risk conditions particularly impact them and their unique needs to empower clinical preventive care during this and future viral pandemics. Old age and alcohol misuse are associated with cilia dysfunction. SPD has been documented to specifically bind to and neutralize the Spike protein of coronavirus. We hypothesize that altered innate lung defense at the level of mucociliary clearance, anti-microbial surfactants, and viral receptor function will negatively impact susceptibility and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, placing Veterans particularly in harm’s way. We are currently identifying differences in SARS- CoV-2 infection responses between normal airway epithelium and lung macrophages and those cells collected from individuals with COPD, with alcohol use disorder, or of old age. Defining the modalities of risk will empower clinicians to make informed clinical preventive care decisions for Veterans (Funded by BX005413). Agricultural organic dust-mediated lung injury. VISN 23 encompasses a region responsible for the largest agricultural output in the nation. In collaboration with Omaha VA physician scientists, we have built a cohort of Veterans with agricultural exposures to explore the impact of organic dusts on chronic lung inflammatory injury. Using established mouse models, we have identified the therapeutic impact of IL-10 on lung repair from dust- mediated injury. We are currently defining the mechanisms of action through an active NIOSH R01 study and the Central States Center for Agricultural safety and Health (Funded by OH010162). With these innovative research programs, I have been able to provide training and mentoring to many undergraduates, graduate students, fellows, junior scientists and physicians at the Omaha VAMC and affiliated University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Our efforts to investigate the underlying mechanisms and identify targets for pulmonary disease have brought together physician scientists and basic scientists at the Omaha VA medical center and UNMC, which has led to the development of a VA-funded live-animal microCT Core facility, which I supervise and is the only such instrument in Omaha.