Amal Amer, MD, PhD
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B. cenocepacia, Innate Immunity
Dr. Amer's laboratory focuses on innate immune response of macrophages to Legionella pneumophila and Burkholderia cenocepacia, microbial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interaction, autophagy, NOD-like receptors, non-apoptotic functions of caspases and the inflammasome complex. |
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Michael Bailey, PhD
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GI Microbiota
Michael Bailey, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Ohio State University. Dr. Bailey has nearly 20 years of experience studying bidirectional interactions between host physiology and the microbes that naturally reside within the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., the gut microbiota). Dr. Bailey’s studies were among the first to show that stressful situations can lead to changes in the composition of the gut microbiota and his current studies are now focused on the impact that changes to gut microbiota composition have on the functioning of the immune system and on nervous system activity. |
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Lauren Bakaletz, PhD
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Mucosal Immunity, H. influenzae
Lauren O. Bakaletz, PhD, is a principal investigator in and the director of the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Tillie E. Coleman Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research. She is a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and of Otolaryngology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. The research program of the Bakaletz Lab is focused on determining the molecular mechanisms that underlie polymicrobial infections of the respiratory tract, with a primary emphasis on otitis media or middle ear infections, a highly prevalent pediatric disease worldwide. |
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Megan Ballinger, PhD
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Airway Inflammation
My lab is interested in investigating the mechanisms by which innate immunity protects the lung against infectious and non-infectious injury and inflammation. Currently, I am investigating the role of macrophage in regulating the initiation and propagation of pulmonary fibrosis. |
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Rosara Bass, MD
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CF/GI
Rosara Bass, MD, MS, is an attending gastroenterologist and physician nutrition specialist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Bass’ clinical and research work focuses on gastrointestinal and nutritional problems related to cystic fibrosis. Dr. Bass is a recipient of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Harry Shwachman Clinical Investigator Award for her study examining factors associated with robust or minimal weight gain after initiation of ETI. She is also a member of CFF DIGEST. |
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Brian Becknell, MD, PhD
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Nephrology
M. Brian Becknell, MD, PhD, is a pediatric nephrologist at Nationwide Children's and principal investigator for the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center. He is also an assistant professor of pediatrics for The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he received his medical degree. Dr. Becknell completed his residency and pediatric nephrology fellowship at Nationwide Children's. His clinical interests include pyelonephritis and congenital obstructive nephropathy. Dr. Becknell's research interests include understanding the mechanisms responsible for deterioration of kidney function in children with congenital obstructive nephropathy. |
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Prosper Boyaka, PhD
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Mucosal Immunity and Microbiota
Research interests include innate regulation of mucosal immune responses, adjuvants and musoal vaccines, mucosal immunity and allergy, and microbiota. |
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Rodney Britt, PhD
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Airway Biology
Dr. Britt's lab studies mechanisms that contribute to persistent airway inflammation and remodeling and corticosteroid insensitivity in severe asthma. He is also utilizing preclinical models to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies with potential to improve corticosteroid sensitivity and/or alleviate severe asthma. Additional research projects include understanding the impact of neonatal hyperoxia on development of recurrent wheeze and asthma in children born prematurely and defining immune mechanisms that mediate acute exacerbation in pediatric asthma. |
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Tendy Chiang, MD
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Otolaryngology
Tendy Chiang, MD is a pediatric otolaryngologist in the Department of Otolaryngology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He serves as Director of Research for the Department of Otolaryngology and Associate Program Director of the Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship Program. Dr. Chiang is also a Principal Investigator in the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he leads a translational research program focused on airway reconstruction, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Dr. Chiang received his medical degree and completed his residency in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He subsequently completed fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology and joined the faculty at Children’s Hospital Colorado before returning to Columbus. His clinical interests include complex pediatric airway and aerodigestive disorders, pediatric head and neck masses, and pediatric sleep disorders. His research program focuses on developing regenerative and tissue-engineered approaches for airway reconstruction, with particular emphasis on understanding the biological and biomechanical mechanisms that govern airway injury, repair, and regeneration |
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Patrick Collins, PhD
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Microbial Infection and Immunity
Dr. Collins' research focuses on genomic mechanisms that balance immune development and disease. In this regard, he has two primary research programs: A) the genomic regulators of human innate lymphocytes, which provide surveillance for metastasis and clear hematological malignancies; and B) the mechanisms that stabilize DNA breaks during adaptive lymphocyte development, and thereby prevent end disassociation and oncogenic recombination. |
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Daniel Conway, PhD
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Biomedical Engineering
Daniel Conway is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Ohio State University and a member of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research is focused on developing innovative fluorescent-based imaging approaches to study cell mechanics, with a particular focus on resolving mechanical forces at cell-cell adhesions and the nucleus. Dr. Conway received his BS in Bioengineering at Rice University and his PhD in the joint Biomedical Engineering program between Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University. During his postdoctoral training at the University of Virginia he developed FRET-force biosensors to directly measure how shear stress affects the mechanical forces across endothelial cell-cell junctions. Prior to coming to OSU, Dr. Conway was a faculty member of the Biomedical Engineering Department at Virginia Commonwealth University. His current research is focused on how mechanical forces at cell-cell adhesions and the nuclear LINC complex regulate epithelial homeostasis. This work is currently funded by NIH NIGMS R35, NSF CAREER, and NSF BRITE awards. |
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Estelle Cormet-Boyaka, PhD
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CF Airway Physiology
Research interests include Epithelial cell homeostasis and their role in inflammatory diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis and COPD, Epithelial cell responses to environmental stimuli such as drugs, pollutants, and viral or bacterial pathogens, Protein-protein interaction and regulation of protein trafficking, Effect of pollutants on immune responses, and Intestinal epithelial cells and gut flora interaction. |
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Miqdad Dhariwala, PhD
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Microbial Infection and Immunity
Research in the Dhariwala lab focuses on the mechanisms by which commensal microbes establish a symbiotic relationship with the host in the early life window. We are particularly interested in dissecting how the crosstalk between commensal microbes and myeloid cells in neonatal barrier tissues shapes long-term health. Myeloid cells are the earliest immune populations to seed tissues and despite being the primary sentinels interacting with commensal microbes, little is known about how myeloid cells help establish tissue homeostasis. We are fundamentally interested in these questions because the origin of several chronic inflammatory conditions can be traced back to immune-microbiome dysregulations in the early life window. With core expertise in human and murine tissue immunology, microbiome sciences, and novel translational tools the Dhariwala lab aims to translate their fundamental research findings to next generation therapeutic interventions against chronic inflammatory disease. |
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Alvin Freeman, MD
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Pancreatic Care
A. Jay Freeman, MD, MSc, is medical director of Pancreatic Care for the Pancreas and Liver Care Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Freeman is a leader in the care of children with pancreatic disorders as well as the GI and liver complications of cystic fibrosis. Related to pediatric pancreatology, he has authored numerous manuscripts and participated in international position papers and guidelines related to the nutritional management of pancreatitis, as well as the care of acute and chronic pancreatitis in children. His work has established the GI patient reported outcome measures used in clinical trials sponsored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) as well authored guidelines related to the management of pancreatitis, constipation and liver transplantation in cystic fibrosis. In addition to his clinical and research interests, Dr. Freeman serves on the JPGN Reports editorial board and is an advisor on the NPF patient registry. He has received multiple honors including an award for Clinical Innovation in Program Development and was inducted into the GA Chapter of the CFF’s Peachtree Society. |
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Kajal Gandhi, DO
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Endocrinology
Dr. Kajal Gandhi, DO, MPH, is an assistant professor of pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University School of Medicine. She earned her masters of public health at the University of Texas Health Science Center, earned her medical degree, and ultimately finished her fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Her primary research interests include the study of health inequities in the pediatric type 1 diabetes and cystic fibrosis diabetes population through quality improvement initiatives, including improving health equity with diabetes technology, and founder/medical director of the Diabetes and School Health Program (DASH), a community-based care coordination program for the pediatric type 1 diabetes population. She also investigates glycemic outcomes with pancreas related diabetes with total pancreatectomy and islet auto transplantation (TPIAT) patients, and through CF Foundation endocrine grant funding, with cystic fibrosis related diabetes. |
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Steven Goodman, PhD
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CF Host-Pathogen Interactions
Dr. Goodman is a principal investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis. His research focuses on gene regulation in biofilms, bacterial surface detection and attachment, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and metagenomics, and bacterial histones. |
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Luanne Hall-Stoodley, PhD
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M. abscessus, Innate Immunity
Dr. Hall-Stoodley's research focuses on two strategies that pathogenic bacteria use to persist in the host and cause chronic infections in the human respiratory tract: 1) biofilm development (adherent and/or aggregated bacteria associated with mucosal epithelia) and/or, 2) intracellular residence in host cells. |
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Emily Hemann, PhD
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Microbial Infection and Immunity
The development of effective and persisting adaptive immune response is required for clearance of and protection from viral infection. Rapid detection of virus by infected cells and innate immune cells leads to production interferon (IFN), contributing to an antiviral state within tissues. However, a fine balance is required for effective immune activation and viral clearance while minimizing pathology. Research in the Hemann laboratory focuses on understanding the cellular components and signaling pathways that function at the innate-adaptive immune interface to program protective immunity against viral infection. We have recently revealed that type III IFN, expressed primarily at barrier surfaces, plays a critical role in shaping functional adaptive immunity against influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Projects aimed to better understand the specific mechanisms by which type III IFN regulates adaptive immunity following IAV vaccination and infection are ongoing. Additional research projects in the laboratory are focused on understanding how virus sensing and IFN signaling in specific non-immune and immune cell subsets regulates respiratory virus infection and the induction of protective immunity. We utilize novel genetic knockout infection models and combine transcriptional and cellular analysis to understand how early innate immune signals program innate and adaptive immune cells in the context of respiratory virus vaccination and infection. The ultimate goal of our research is to inform the development of better adjuvants and therapeutics against viral infection. |
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Alexander Hooper, MD
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Gastroenterology
I chose to become a physician because I’m passionate about helping people improve their health and their quality of life. As a gastroenterologist, I specialize in treating disorders of the digestive track, as well as performing upper and lower endoscopies including those for colon cancer screenings. |
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Mengying Hu, PhD
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Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology
The Hoo (Hu) research group focuses on the functional and mechanistic exploration of immune cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and EV-DNA in the context of diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammatory disorders. The ultimate goal is to inform the rationale design of non-viral gene therapies and diagnostic/prognostic tools. Specific research interests include functional and mechanistic exploration of immune cell-derived EVs and EV-DNA in disease settings such as cancer and auto-immune disorders, engineering core-shell lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the targeted delivery of nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, and small molecules to support therapeutic development for cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune disorder and diagnostic/prognostic biomarker development based on circulating EVs and EV-DNA. |
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Yan Hu, PhD
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Tissue Regeneration
Dr. Hu’s research aims to uncover mechanisms and therapeutic pathways that promote airway and alveolar regeneration in chronic and developmental lung diseases, including COPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF). Her lab investigates how airway epithelial progenitor cells contribute to lung repair and how disease associated changes in epithelial function, mucus production, and the local tissue environment impair regeneration. The lab employs cutting edge approaches, including single cell and spatial transcriptomics, patient-derived lung organoids, precision-cut lung slices (PCLS), and transgenic animal disease models. Her emerging CF research program leverages ferret PCLS to investigate CFTR-dependent airway and submucosal gland dysfunction and to develop translational platforms for studying epithelial function and therapeutic responses. By integrating these complementary approaches, Dr. Hu seeks to identify mechanisms that restore epithelial homeostasis and enhance lung tissue repair. |
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Razi Kebriaei, PhD
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Pathogens, Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic
Kebriaei Group (P3 Research Laboratory) in the Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy is focused on developing innovative therapeutic strategies for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The laboratory investigates antimicrobial resistance, bacteriophage (phage) therapy, phage-antibiotic combination approaches, and infectious diseases pharmacology, with a particular emphasis on understanding how bacterial physiology, resistance mechanisms, and population dynamics influence treatment outcomes. A major area of research is the inoculum effect, including the cefazolin inoculum effect (CzIE) in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), and its impact on antimicrobial efficacy, treatment failure, and clinical outcomes. Current projects seek to identify and validate microbiological and molecular, markers that can predict the presence of CzIE and help guide precision antimicrobial therapy. Using advanced in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) models, microbiological assays, genomic approaches, and translational clinical studies, the laboratory evaluates novel therapeutic combinations, biofilm-associated infections, mechanisms of resistance, and predictors of antibiotic response. Through collaborative partnerships across clinical and basic science disciplines, the Kebriaei Group aims to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and patient care by advancing precision anti-infective therapies and improving outcomes for patients with serious infectious diseases |
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Stephen Kirkby, MD
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CF Care, Transplants, and Clinical Trials
Stephen Kirkby, MD, is the Medical Director of the Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Programs at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) and is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Kirkby graduated from Penn State University College of Medicine. He completed his residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUMC) and Nationwide Children's Hospital. He then completed fellowship training in adult pulmonary/critical care medicine and pediatric pulmonary medicine. He is board-certified in pediatric pulmonary medicine, adult pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine and internal medicine. Dr. Kirkby serves as the Program Director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship at NCH, as well as Director of the Lung Transplant Fellowship at OSUMC. Dr. Kirkby's areas of research focus on clinical outcomes in lung transplantation and cystic fibrosis (CF). His main clinical interests include lung transplantation, CF and other congenital lung diseases, pulmonary hypertension in advanced lung disease, and treatment of unusual pulmonary infections. |
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Benjamin Kopp, MD, MPH
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Host-pathogen-exposome interactions
Benjamin Kopp, MD, MPH, graduated from Ohio State University School of Medicine and received his MPH from Ohio State University College of Public Health. He completed pediatrics residency and a pediatric pulmonology fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital before serving on the faculty from 2012-2022. Dr. Kopp was Co-Director of the Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Disease (CF-AIR) Research Center at Emory from 2022-2026 and is now the current Division Chief of Pulmonary, Sleep, and Cystic Fibrosis at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The Kopp Lab is dedicated to understanding how innate immunity shapes the development, progression, and treatment of chronic lung diseases in children, with a primary focus on cystic fibrosis (CF). Our work integrates immunology, microbiology, pulmonary biology and environmental health to uncover the mechanisms that drive early airway inflammation, impaired host defense, and chronic infection in these vulnerable populations. |
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Katelyn Krivchenia, MD
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CF Infant Care and Clinical Trials
Katelyn Krivchenia, MD, is a member of the Section of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She has been with The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Nationwide Children’s Hospital for her medical school, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency, and pediatric pulmonology fellowship training. She is Director of the Infant Cystic Fibrosis and Newborn Screening Program. Her clinical and research interests in CF include quality work around newborn screening, prenatal CF therapies, and socioeconomic/emotional challenges surrounding care of infants with CF. She is also the Director of the Interstitial and Rare Lung Disease Program and provides care for infants, children, and young adults with a spectrum of lung disease. |
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Angela Kruse, PhD
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Mucosal Immunity, Diabetes
Angela R.S. Kruse, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the department of Microbial Infection and Immunity at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The Kruse Laboratory is dedicated to understanding infectious and metabolic disease via the development and integration of spatial technologies including mass spectrometry and microscopy. Current projects center on 1) the host-pathogen interface during Clostridioides difficile infection in the intestine, and 2) the molecular basis of islet and exocrine dysfunction in the diabetic pancreas. Each project centers mucosal immunity as it pertains to cellular function and interaction with bacterial pathogens. For more information, see our lab website. |
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Christian Lauber, PhD
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Microbiome
Christian Lauber, PhD, is a broadly trained microbial ecologist interested in how microbiome composition relates to microbiome function and the delivery of ecosystem services in natural and host associated environments. Chris obtained his PhD in Biology from the University of New Mexico and was a post doc in the labs of Dr. Noah Fierer and Dr. Rob Knight at the University of Colorado before moving to Switzerland to work for Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences and École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne. His current research aims to leverage next generation sequencing of the microbiome to support best outcomes for children. |
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Amy Leber, PhD
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Microbiology and Immunoserology
As the Director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunoserology, Dr. Amy Leber provides technical oversight in all areas of clinical microbiology and immunochemistry; including bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, virology, serology, and molecular infectious disease testing. She also oversees autoimmune, allergy testing, and select immunology assays. She provides consultation for physicians/clients in all areas of Infectious Disease laboratory testing. Dr. Leber has multiple teaching responsibilities for various medical personnel including direction of Infectious Disease Fellowship rotation in the laboratory. She is responsible for the management of quality and technical processes of the laboratories, and to direct research and development for new methodologies. |
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Yusen Liu, PhD
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Innate Immunity and Signaling
Yusen Liu, PhD, is a Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Liu’s NIH-funded research program focuses on the role of MAP kinase phosphatases in host defense against microbial infection. His research has established MAP kinase phosphatase (MKP)-1 as one of the most important negative regulators of inflammation and a potential target for a variety of inflammatory diseases. |
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Namal Liyanage, PhD
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Mucosal Immnology
Dr. Liyanage’s major research interests are to explore novel strategies to prevent and control chronic viral infections such as HIV through better understanding of the innate and adaptive immune responses. His recent studies have shown the critical role of mucosal innate lymphoid cells and natural killer cells in the prevention of SIV/HIV infections. |
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Landon Locke, PhD
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Imaging
The overarching goal of my research program and professional research career is to build a translational and cross-disciplined program involving bioimaging and infectious disease studies. I am leading two projects that address major challenges in microbial-driven diseases, including: (1) directly targeting/imaging the invading pathogen using self-targeted engineered probes and (2) understanding the determinants of the cellular response to microbial triggers in the form of immune cell structures known as granulomas in health and disease for improved diagnostics and therapies. |
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Matthew Long, PhD
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Acute Lung Injury, Leukocyte Biology
The main objectives of the laboratory are to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating pulmonary inflammation and its resolution, with the goal of developing anti-inflammatory or dual anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory therapeutics. We currently focus on two primary lung diseases: 1) Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and, 2) Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and are specifically interested in understanding how MAPK signaling pathways regulate leukocyte responses to inflammation and infection. Our laboratory utilizes both in vitro and in vivo models in our experimental design to investigate the regulators of inflammation. |
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Thomas Lynch, PhD
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Perinatal Research
Thomas Lynch, PhD, is a principle investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Lynch is a basic science researcher with a focus on the foundational understanding of lung stem cells and their microenvironments, particularly within airway submucosal glands. Glands play important roles in clearing pathogens and their dysregulation is a hallmark feature of multiple human lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and chronic bronchitis. The Lynch Lab uses cutting-edge animal models to answer critical questions regarding lung regeneration. As a basic science researcher, Dr. Lynch's mission is to identify new fundamental paths to preserve and restore lung function, teach, train and mentor emerging scientists and physicians, and help make advances in science accessible to everyone. |
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Karen McCoy, MD
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CF Clinical Trails and Translational Care
Karen S. McCoy, MD, is chief of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Pulmonary Medicine and professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Her clinical interests focus on managing patients of all ages with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pediatric asthma. Dr. McCoy's research interests revolve around clinical outcomes and trials in cystic fibrosis and asthma. She is the principal investigator for the CF Therapeutic Development Center. She is the director of the CF Center, and medical director for Infant and Non-infant Pulmonary Function, and Respiratory Care. |
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Mark Mitton-Fry, PhD
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Antimicrobial Development
Dr. Mitton-Fry’s research team is dedicated to inventing cures for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The lab uses the tools of synthetic medicinal chemistry to design and prepare innovative new molecules, and we collaborate broadly to evaluate their biological, pharmaceutical, and toxicological properties. Dr. Mitton-Fry also enjoys teaching students at all levels about antibacterial therapies. |
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Chris Montgomery, MD
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S. aureus, Immunology
Christopher P. Montgomery, MD, is a Critical Care physician at Nationwide Children’s and a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at the Research Institute. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Montgomery received his Bachelor of Arts from Kalamazoo College and graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine with high distinction. He completed his residency in Pediatrics and fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Dr. Montgomery’s research focuses on the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus infections in children, with an emphasis on how the bacterium interacts with the host immune response. |
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Jon Parquette, PhD
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Chemistry and Biochemistry
Our research program revolves around the theme of applied synthetic organic chemistry. We are particularly interested in the design and synthesis of functional macromolecules that fold or self-assemble into well-defined nanostructures because these molecules have tremendous potential to function as enantioselective catalysts, targeted drug delivery agents and electronic materials, among many other applications. Consequently, this work is highly collaborative in nature, involving researchers in diverse fields ranging from electrical engineering to oncology. Students involved in my research program will primarily learn techniques in synthetic organic chemistry; however, a broad appreciation of topics of immediate national (such as energy production and storage) and biomedical interest (anticancer approaches) will be developed. |
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Santiago Partida-Sanchez, PhD
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Ion Channels, CF Pathogenesis
My laboratory is interested in the study of immune cell recruitment induced by infection and/or inflammation. Our research projects are focused on molecular analyses of chemokine receptor-mediated G-protein-linked signaling and calcium influx in neutrophils and DCs. We are conducting experiments to study regulation of calcium influx mediated by CD38-catalyzed metabolites and the ADPR-activated calcium channel TRPM2 in inflammatory cells. We would like to assess whether CD38 inhibiting drugs, CD38-derived antagonists, and/or TRPM2 channel inhibitors, have potential therapeutic use to block undesired chronic inflammatory responses, or harmful T cell responses leading to autoimmunity. This knowledge could allow us to design new strategies for clinical intervention in several immunological disorders, as well as inflammatory and infectious diseases. |
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Alpa Patel, MD
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CF Clinical Trials
Alpa R. Patel, MD, is a physician in the Section of Primary Care Pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital and a clinical assistant professor of Pulmonary Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She is a co-director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center. Her clinical interest focuses on management of adult cystic fibrosis patients. Her research interest lies in preventive medicine, especially cystic fibrosis-related osteoporosis, and the prevention and treatment of depression and diabetes related to cystic fibrosis. She is also involved in the Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutic Development Network and has served as a primary reviewer on proposed protocols. She is a co-director of and actively involved with the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is also active in teaching medical professionals at multiple levels, with other major interests in the internal medicine/pediatrics clinic and teaching internal medicine/pediatric residents. |
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Grace Paul, MD
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CF Care, Global CF and Clinical Trials
Dr. Grace Paul is an associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dr. Paul completed her medical education at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, followed by pediatric residency at CaseWestern/MetroHealth Medical Center, pulmonary fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and sleep medicine fellowship at the Ohio State University. Her clinical interests are asthma, cystic fibrosis (CF) and the pulmonary and sleep manifestations of neuromuscular disorders. She serves as the Director of the Translational and Data Core, and co-director of the Training and Enrichment Program of the C3RDP. She will be taking over as director of the pediatric Therapeutic Development Network of the CF center at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dr.Paul has received grant funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for 3 notable projects- 1) the CF Demonstration project to train and equip a CF center in India, and to establish CF-related educational, diagnostic, and clinical infrastructure within south India, 2) the CF-India Expansion project to increase sweat testing capabilities in certain centers in south India, and 3) the CF-India Newborn screening project to assess the feasibility and sustainability of CF newborn screening in south India. She serves as the Director of the Pulmonary-Global Health team of the pulmonary division, and mentors trainees and faculty members on pulmonary care in under resourced nations globally. Dr. Paul is a member of the American Thoracic Society VIPPRA research mentorship program, and the co-director of the NCH Residency global health advanced competency program. She has given multiple lectures on CF, asthma, and neuromuscular disorders in developing nations and has published in many reputed pulmonary medicine journals. |
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Mark Peeples, PhD
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Airway Epithelial Biology
The Peeples’ Lab isolates basal cells from the human airway epithelium of organ donors or nasal brushings to produce primary well differentiated human bronchial or nasal epithelial (HBE, HNE) cultures at an air-liquid interface (ALI). These cultures include mucus-producing cells and ciliated cells whose cilia push the mucus around the wells. We study respiratory virus infection of HBE and HNE cultures, particularly RSV and SARS-CoV-2, with a focus on the unique aspects of these ‘in vivo-like’ airway cultures relative to the tumor cell lines that have traditionally been used to study respiratory virus infection. We also provide these primary ALI cultures derived from people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). We are developing live attenuated viruses as vaccines and as vectors to express multiple respiratory virus glycoproteins to more effectively protect the airways from multiple respiratory viruses. Finally, we are employing the same respiratory virus glycoproteins that enable these viruses to infect specific cell types in the airways to deliver gene modification machinery capable of repairing mutant genes, such as the CFTR gene, to the correct cell type in people with CF. In most of these studies, we are collaborating with colleagues with complementing skills. |
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Dehua Pei, PhD
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Peptide Delivery Strategies
Dehua Pei obtained his B.S. Degree in Chemistry from Wuhan University, China in 1986 and his Ph.D. Degree in organic chemistry from University of California, Berkeley in 1991, working under the direction of Peter G. Schultz. After a postdoctoral stint with Christopher T. Walsh at Harvard Medical School, he joined the faculty at OSU in 1995 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2001 and to Professor in 2004. |
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Chris Peritore-Galve PhD
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Pathogenic Bacteria
The Peritore Lab aims to uncover the mechanisms by which C. difficile toxins alter host epithelial physiology during both acute and chronic infections and to understand how these changes in the colonic environment affect the host, the pathogen, and the commensal microbiota. This is accomplished by employing both in vitro approaches, such as using recombinant protein toxins and human-derived organoids, and in vivo methods, including C. difficile mutants and mouse models of infection. |
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Murugesan Rajaram, PhD, FAHA
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Innate Immunity and Cardiac Dysfunction
Our laboratory investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms that shape host responses to human disease, with a particular focus on infection, cardiac dysfunction, cystic fibrosis, and tuberculosis. Using animal models, human cell-based systems, and molecular and functional approaches, we aim to uncover disease mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets. 1. Infection, Cardiac Immunity, and Heart Function: Respiratory infections can have profound effects beyond the lungs, including cardiac complications. We investigate how bacterial and viral infections—including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, influenza virus, and nontuberculous mycobacteria, alter cardiac immune responses and heart function. Also, we study how infection and aging reshape cardiac immune cell populations, and how these changes contribute to cardiac dysfunction and recovery. 2. Cystic Fibrosis and Cardiac Function: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is primarily considered a lung disease, but CFTR dysfunction may also directly affect the heart. We investigate how CFTR regulates cardiomyocyte electrical activity, calcium (Ca²⁺) handling, and contractility using human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and mouse models of CF. 3. Tuberculosis, Host–Pathogen Interactions, and Drug Resistance: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), remains a major global health challenge, complicated by prolonged treatment and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Our laboratory investigates how M. tuberculosis manipulates host pathways to promote survival and reduce antibiotic efficacy. We identified host MDR1-mediated drug efflux as a potential mechanism contributing to antibiotic tolerance during infection. We are now investigating host and bacterial mechanisms of drug resistance and evaluating whether targeting MDR1 can improve treatment efficacy. Our long-term goal is to develop strategies that shorten TB treatment and limit drug resistance. |
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Nilsa Ramirez, MD
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Pathology
Nilsa C. Ramirez, MD, is a board-certified anatomic pathologist with subspecialty training in gynecologic pathology and expertise in perinatal and obstetrical pathology, as well as in biobanking in the context of adult and pediatric cancer clinical trials. She is a member of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Nationwide Children’s and Director of the Biopathology Center, housed at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's. At The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine, she is a professor of Clinical Pathology and an active member of the Translational Therapeutics Program of the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center. |
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Mitchell Ramsey, MD
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Gastroenterology
As a gastroenterology physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Dr. Ramsey specializes in treating pancreatic disorders. He regularly cares for patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts and cystic fibrosis. He also performs endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures for cancer screening and other diagnostic purposes. His research is focused on enhancing our understanding of pancreatic disorders and advancing treatments. |
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Susan Reynolds, PhD
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Progenitor Cell Biology
Susan D. Reynolds, PhD's research focuses on tissue stem cells that maintain the conducting airway epithelium. Previous work identified a basal cell subtype that functioned as a tissue stem cell in mice. Current research translates these findings to human airways and seeks to use the tissue stem cell as therapy for lung disease, including Cystic Fibrosis. |
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Juan de Dios Ruiz Rosado, PhD
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Innate Immunity
Dr. Juan de Dios Ruiz Rosado is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University and is an NIH-funded Principal Investigator in the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH). Moreover, he maintains an affiliate role within the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at NCH. Dr. Ruiz-Rosado is dedicated to developing innovative therapies for individuals afflicted by urinary tract infections (UTI). His laboratory is committed to unraveling the intricate anti-microbial mechanisms employed by neutrophils and macrophages in eliminating uropathogenic Escherichia coli, a common culprit in UTI. His laboratory also integrates single-cell and spatial transcriptomic technologies to develop comprehensive human and mouse atlases of cystitis and pyelonephritis. |
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Harpreet Singh, PhD
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Physiology and Cell Biology
Our current program is aimed at deciphering molecular identity of mitochondrial ion channels, establish their localization and biophysical properties, and study their role in mitochondrial as well as cell physiology. Mitochondria is a key player in pathological and physiological conditions ranging from heart failure, cancer to normal functioning of organs. Our immediate interest is on studying mitochondrial ion channels and their relation to heart function and heart failure. Our research program is focused on following projects. |
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Matthew Sullivan, PhD
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Phage Ecology and Therapeutics
Dr. Matthew B. Sullivan's research focus is on the co-evolution of microbe and virus (phage) in environmental populations, as well as the impact of marine phages on microbe-mediated global biogeochemistry. Genomics and model-systems-based experimentation revealed that cyanobacterial phages often contain host photosynthesis genes, which are expressed during infection and act as a diversity generator for their numerically-dominant, globally-distributed photosynthetic hosts. Using a genomic and metagenomic toolkit, we query 'wild' viral populations to identify important hypotheses that can be evaluated using model-system approaches with appropriate phage isolates. The Sullivan lab is also developing single-cell assays to investigate questions that are critical for modeling and predicting the impacts of phage-host interactions in the wild. Specifically, these include gaining an understanding of the in situ host range of phage isolates, the metabolic capacity of to-date uncultured phage-host systems, the impacts of host growth status on phage production, and the fraction of microbial cells that are infected in wild populations. |
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Sriram Vaidyanathan, PhD
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Gene Therapy
Sriram Vaidyanathan, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Gene Therapy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Vaidyanathan earned his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University and his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He completed his postdoctoral training with Dr. Matthew Porteus at Stanford University, CA. His primary research interest has been the development of gene and cell therapies. His most recent work has been focused on the development of CRISPR/Cas9 based genome editing to treat cystic fibrosis (CF). His lab will continue to further develop genome editing approaches to treat CF and other airway diseases. |
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Fred Woodley, PhD
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CF GI Dysfunction
Dr. Woodley is a senior scientist/principal investigator in the Division of Gastroenterology (GI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) and an assistant professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University. He holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a MS in Microbiology/Biology. His clinical responsibilities at NCH include performing and interpreting hydrogen breath tests for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and carbohydrate malabsorption, and analyzing and interpreting multichannel intraluminal impedance tracings to identify patients who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Dr. Woodley has co-authored three book chapters, published numerous research articles and countless abstracts, and presented his research findings at both national and international meetings. He has been a member of the GI Division at NCH since 2004. |
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Daniel Wozniak, PhD
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P. aeruginosa
Dr. Wozniak’s research activities are focused on the pathogenesis of several bacteria that cause chronic, devastating infections in humans. In chronic airway infections and wounds. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter are the most common nosocomial pathogens isolated and are consistently associated with high mortality rates. Resources spent treating such infections in the U.S. are estimated at ~ $25 billion annually. These infections are extremely difficult to control since the bacteria exhibit a biofilm-mode of growth rendering them resistant to antimicrobials and phagocytic cells. |
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Kristine Yoder, PhD
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Cancer Biology and Genetics
Integration of the retroviral genome into a host chromosome is an essential part of the HIV life cycle. However, understanding of integration is still incomplete. Our studies of host DNA repair factors have identified both positive and negative regulators of retroviral infection. Proteins of the nucleotide excision repair pathway, XPB and XPD, are able to defend the host genome from retroviral integration by degrading the viral cDNA by an evolutionarily ancient mechanism. In contrast, base excision repair (BER) proteins enhance HIV integration. We are continuing to explore the role of BER proteins during integration. Finally, we are evaluating the role of chromatin during integration. Integrase favors DNA wrapped around nucleosomes far more than naked DNA. These studies provide fundamental knowledge of integration that may be useful for enhancing anti-retroviral therapy and also for targeting integration of retroviral gene therapy vectors. |
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Ahmed Yousef, PhD
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Food Microbiology
Dr. Ahmed Yousef earned his Ph.D. in Food Science from University of Wisconsin-Madison. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before joining Ohio State as an Assistant Professor in 1991. Since joining OSU, Dr. Yousef has been searching for natural alternatives to currently used synthetic food preservatives. His team discovered potent antimicrobial agents produced by beneficial bacteria; both the agents and bacteria are suitable for applications in food preservation. Since the late 1990s, Dr. Yousef and his research team have worked to develop methods to pasteurize shell eggs and to decontaminate fresh produce while maintaining products’ fresh qualities. His breakthrough uses a combination of mild heat and pressurized ozone to pasteurize shell eggs. This process can eliminate Salmonella and other pathogens inside raw shell eggs. His ozone research also led to developing methods to decontaminate spinach, apples, and other fresh produce. As a result of this research, Dr. Yousef established the largest ozone research laboratory in the U.S. right here at Ohio State. Because of his food-safety expertise, Dr. Yousef frequently appears in television, radio, and newspaper interviews to explain issues related to foodborne disease outbreaks and products recalls. |
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