According to the ISHLT, more than 4,000 patients undergo a heart transplant each year, and almost 4,000 receive single or double lung transplants. Their prognosis depends heavily on the avoidance of rejection, which claims the majority of their lives. For heart transplant recipients, the median survival is 11 years, while for lung transplant recipients, it is approximately 5 years. The current most common anti-rejection... more »

There is a need to develop an artificial and functional hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche that allows for the expansion of repopulating HSCs.

We now can create critical cell types like cardiomyocytes etc. from stem cells. Additionally, we are learning the rules of using these cells to rebuild tissues. A major gap in our knowledge relates to the immunobiology of these cells. Lessons from transplantation medicine are only partially applicable, because solid organs are more complex and likely more immunogenic than defined cell populations.

How does the immune... more »

Utilizing advances in nano, bio, tissue and related engineering technologies to construct cardiac ECM for heart repair.

Using knowledge of matrix biology and lung development, what are useable methods to modify cadaveric donor lungs to provide a durable, effective organ replacement therapy?

It has become increasingly clear that gut microbiota have a tremendous impact on human health and disease. While it is well known that commensal gut bacteria are crucial in maintaining immune homeostasis in the intestine, there is also evidence of indirect effects on the lung. Multiple studies have shown that alterations in gut microbiota can lead to severe defects in pulmonary immune responses and reduced ability to... more »

What are the underlying dependencies (genomic, metabolic, disease) in individual donors that either accelerate or delay the changes to red blood cells during refrigerated storage? What methods of preparation might protect patients from the risks posed by the accelerated degradation of RBCs provided by "poor storers"? What characteristics of individual patients make them particularly vulnerable to transfusion of red... more »

HOW DO WE STUDY THE BIOLOGY OF THE INTACT ALVEOLAR WALL IN THE CONTEXT OF LUNG DISEASE AND REPAIR?

What are the biological properties and key surface markers of human lung progenitor cells and lung epithelial differentiated iPSCs? How can these cell populations be targeted for therapeutic purposes, including regenerative therapy?

What alterations in respiratory epithelia in response to environmental / external insults are irreversible and lead to disease onset or progression?

Can genome engineering be used to correct or alter lung stem/progenitor cells to ameliorate lung disease and promote regeneration?

What is the role of lung stem/progenitor cells in disease?

Which diseases involve stem cell defects?

The DLD, NHLBI workshops conducted and published (Reference 1, 2, 3) had as their purpose to stimulate research that would identify still obscure or novel cellular components of the human lung to determine cell function in promoting respiratory tract development and in health that contributes to disease, so that better therapy might result. With robust technologies now available, especially genomic advances, how much... more »