Delineation of acute host inflammatory responses against SARS-CoV-2 in human Pluripotent Stem Cell derived lung organoids
CIRM CIRM-SBP Clinical FellowshipJan 1, 2024 - Dec 30, 2026
Role: PI
Description: This project aims to increase the understanding of the basic biology of the acute stages of an innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the human lung. |
Breast Milk Infectious Disease Test via GFET-aptamer Biosensor
PREPARE Institute & HMI Institute Developmental Grant Jul 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2024
Role: Co-PI
Description: Detection of breast milk antigens via graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) technology. The GFET is functionalized with ssDNA aptamer probes specific to the cytokines and viruses of interest. |
Overriding the Immune Evasion Tactics of Coronavirus
NIH R01 AI158552Aug 1, 2022 - Jul 31, 2024
Role: Co-Investigator
Description: In this proposal we seek to identify the mechanisms of Coronavirus that inactivate cytokine pathways
critical for host defense. We focus on the Lymphotoxin-ß Receptor (LTßR) and the Herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM, TNFRSF14) pathways that regulate anti-viral cytokines, interferons (IFN) and interleukin-1(IL1ß). |
Targeting IL-33 for the treatment of SARS-CoV 2 respiratory disease in smokers
TRDRP T32IR4683Jul 1, 2022 - Jun 30, 2025
Role: Co-investigator
Description: This study will 1) advance our understanding of the post-translational processes that regulate alarmin
signaling and 2) elucidate the protein dynamics necessary to design changes that dampen alarmin signaling.
Our ultimate goal is to halt the progression of COVID-19 in vulnerable populations |
Delineation of acute host inflammatory responses against Coccidioidomycosis
NIH U19 RFA-AI-20-056Jan 24, 2021 - Jun 30, 2024
Role: PI
Description: This project aims to increase the understanding of the basic biology of the acute stages of Coccidioides infection in the human lung. We will uncover transcriptomic changes, as well as effects on epithelial and mesenchymal cells at a single cell level by utilizing multiplexed scRNA-seq with feature barcoding at multiple time points after infection and in different biological backgrounds. |
Using hiPSC-derived lung organoids, a clinically-relevant system, to validate & winnow a list of approved drugs that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cytopathy
CIRM DISC2COVID19-12022Aug 1, 2020 - Jul 31, 2021
Role: Co-PI
Description: Establish pluripotent stem cell based lung organoid system to emulate that in vivo conditions for SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify extant drugs that are effective in the patient representative platform. |
SARS-CoV-2 proteome interaction with host transcriptome
UCSD/UCOP R00RG2636Apr 15, 2020 - Oct 14, 2021
Role: Co-PI
Description: This study will address how proteins from SARS-CoV-2 interact with host cell transcriptome in order to understand the varying degrees of clinical manifestation of COVID-19 and to identify molecular targets that can abolish critical viral-host interaction. |
The Association Between Milk Feedings, the Microbiome and Risk of Atopic Disease in the Preterm Population (MAP) Study
Center for Microbiome Innovation CMI Pilot grantJun 15, 2019 - Dec 14, 2021
Role: Co-investigator
Description: Major goals are to examine the microbiome of the preterm gut and mouth along with the milk feeds and determine if a specific pattern predisposes preterm babies to develop atopy. |
Intratracheal macrophage population may impact outcome of BPD in preterm babies
Rady Children’s Hospital/UCSD Junior Faculty Clinical Endowed Chair AwardSep 1, 2018 - Aug 31, 2020
Role: PI
Description: Major goal is to study the gene expression of patient derived macrophages in preterm babies to elucidate patterns that predict the outcome of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. |
Lung Organoids as a model system for studying the impact of surfactant B deficiency on lung development
UCSD Academic Senate RS282R-LEIBELJan 1, 2018 - Dec 31, 2019
Role: PI
Description: Major goal was to study and rescue surfactant protein B deficiency using gene therapy with a lentivirus in human lung organoid model. |