Divisional Research Miller School of Medicine

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The University of Miami Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine (PCCSM) is dedicated to advancing the care of patients with respiratory, critical, and sleep diseases through cutting-edge basic, translational, and clinical research. A key part of our mission is to provide innovative and collaborative approaches to improving health from bench to bedside. Equally important is our mission to train the physicians and scientists of tomorrow, ensuring the legacy and evolution of transformative biomedical sciences and innovative, patient-centered care.

For trainees, the program offers unparalleled opportunities to engage in cutting-edge investigations, acquire invaluable skills, and work alongside leading experts to develop innovative approaches diagnose and treat patients to improve outcomes. For patients, participation in clinical research and trials within this program ensures access to the latest therapies and the chance to contribute to groundbreaking discoveries that could shape the future of care. The potential impact of this research is profound, with the promise of significantly improving the diagnosis, care and prognosis of patients. Your involvement—whether as a dedicated trainee or a courageous patient volunteer—is essential to driving progress and transforming the future of PCCSM.

Research Focus Areas

Our research efforts span a diverse range of topics in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in respiratory health today. Key areas of focus include:

Basic/Translational Research
- Lung Injury and Repair: Acute Respiratory distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating acute inflammatory lung disease that is a leading cause of death in the Intensive Care Units. Most of the field has focused on the early mechanism of lung injury, while the resolution of lung inflammation has received little attention. Our physician-scientists focus on immunological mechanisms that promote the resolution of lung inflammation and repair.
- Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a severe and often progressive condition characterized by elevated blood pressure in the lungs, which can lead to right heart failure and death. Our group is actively participating in multiple basic, translational, and clinical research projects on PAH, aiming to identify novel genetic, epigenetic and molecular biomarkers of disease risk and severity. We have expertise in cardiopulmonary molecular medicine, physiology and imagining allowing for mechanistic investigations that integrate preclinical models of disease, molecular and cellular biology, omics and deep phenotyping of patients with all forms of pulmonary hypertension. This program provides an outstanding environment for both trainees and patient volunteers, uniquely positioning it as an ideal place to advance research in pulmonary hypertension.
  - Additional detailed information available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1hYwhzHVBR0Aw/bibliography/public/
- Sleep Disorder Breathing: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which includes conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), and hypoventilation syndromes, significantly affects physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. The widespread prevalence of these disorders underscores their clinical importance and the need for effective management. Our group is taking a comprehensive approach to understanding the impact and mechanisms of SDB on cardiovascular health, metabolic syndrome, neurocognitive effects, and immune function, ensuring that no aspect of these disorders is overlooked.
- Immune-related Lung Toxicity: Immune-related lung toxicity, often associated with immunotherapies (e.g., immune checkpoint inhibitors), manifests in various forms, such as pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Our group focuses on basic and translational efforts to understand molecular and dysregulated T-cell and macrophage responses that could potentially provide therapeutic targets.
- Immunology and Lung Infections: Pneumonia (PNA) is a leading cause of death worldwide. The focus has been on targeting the pathogens with antibiotics; however, with the emergence of resistance and new pathogens, the lung immune response modulation to promote immune resistance and resilience has received little attention. Our group has focused on understanding the immune landscape during PNA and attempting to reprogram macrophages and Regulatory T cells promote the resolution of lung inflammation while promoting pathogen clearance.
- Regulatory T-cell Biology: Regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subset of CD4+T cells characterized by the expression of FOXP3 and other immunomodulatory molecules, play a central role in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity. Our group found that they orchestrate lung repair after lung injury. We are interested in understanding the molecular and hormonal regulation of Tregs that enhance their pro-repair and pro-resolving functions.
- Vascular Biology: Vascular biology in the lung and right heart is central to understanding and treating a range of critical cardiopulmonary diseases. Aberrant vascular function contributes directly to the pathogenesis of conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), emphysema, pulmonary hypertension, and right heart failure. Our group has made significant strides in identifying novel mechanistic drivers of this dysregulated vascular biology, advancing the field’s understanding of these complex diseases. Through these efforts, our research aims to bridge fundamental discoveries in vascular biology with clinically relevant applications, paving the way for innovative therapies to improve outcomes for patients with these challenging diseases.
- Deployment-related respiratory disease (DRRD): Deployment-related respiratory diseases (DRRD) encompass a spectrum of acute and chronic respiratory conditions that military personnel may develop during or after deployment, particularly in environments with hazardous exposures. Our group is interested in evaluating the dysregulated immune responses in the lung after exposure and understanding how regional ventilation changes can predict the development of lung disease.
Clinical, Health Implementation, and Global Health Research
- Asthma and Allergic Disorders: Investigating the mechanisms underlying asthma and related allergic conditions to develop novel therapies.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Exploring innovative approaches to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for patients with COPD. Our group is involved in novel therapies for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
- Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Conducting clinical trials to better understand and treat ILD, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Critical Care Innovations: Advancing the management of sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and other critical care conditions through translational research and systems-based approaches. Our group uses large datasets to understand patterns in critical care delivery, including variability in practice, to investigate whether and how different strategies may affect outcomes for patients in need of or at risk for ICU admission.
- Lung Transplantation: Our group is committed to delivering world-class, multidisciplinary care to patients with end-stage lung disease, leveraging cutting-edge technology and evidence-based practices to optimize outcomes and quality of life. By fostering groundbreaking research in transplantation science, immunology, and organ preservation, we aim to improve survival rates and expand access to life-saving therapies.
- Lung Cancer: Pioneering research in early detection, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine for lung cancer patients.
- Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: We are the only Pulmonary Hypertension Associated (PHA)-accredited program in southern Florida. Our group focuses on novel imaging and molecular biomarkers and genetic variants of pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure to improve diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of patients with pulmonary hypertension and its complications.
  - Additional detailed information available: https://phassociation.org/patients/aboutph/
- Sleep Medicine: Addressing disparities in sleep-disordered breathing and the role of sleep on glucose metabolism.
- Global Health: Improving respiratory health worldwide by addressing the burden of lung diseases due to biomass and pollution exposure through innovative research, education, and collaborative interventions. The program aims to enhance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies while advocating for equitable healthcare access, fostering sustainable policies, and empowering communities to achieve healthier lungs for all.

Our Research Programs and Collaborations

Our investigations include funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, foundations, and industry to provide our patients with novel therapies. Some of our programs include:

Clinical Trials Unit: Offering patients access to cutting-edge therapies and interventions through clinical trials.
Basic and Translational Research Initiatives: Bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical application to bring innovative solutions to patients.
Multidisciplinary Collaborations: Partnering with endocrinology, oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and bioinformatics experts to tackle complex health challenges.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Our division is equipped with advanced research facilities and technologies, including:

Computational tools for big data analysis in clinical and genetic research.
Basic and Translational biology laboratories.
High-resolution imaging for lung pathology.
Sleep-disordered Breathing Clinical/Translational Research Unit

Join Our Research Team

We welcome talented individuals passionate about improving respiratory and critical care outcomes. Opportunities include:

Pre and Postdoctoral trainees
Research Assistant positions
Collaborative projects for medical and graduate students and residents

Visit our Careers Page for more information on joining our team.

Research

Seeking patient care?

Research Focus Areas

Basic/Translational Research

Clinical, Health Implementation, and Global Health Research

Our Research Programs and Collaborations

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Join Our Research Team