Ahmed A. Raslan, PhD

Our research is focused on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic and fatal lung disease. IPF is characterized by persistent scarring and it currently has limited therapeutic options. We are particularly interested in the lung cells lining small lung capillaries, known as endothelial cells, and their aging-associated disease-causing mechanisms. Our goal is to understand how these cells and associated mechanisms contribute to the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. By studying these processes, we aim at finding ways to improve lung health in elderly individuals with IPF, offering potential insights for better treatments.

Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award

Update: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lung disease that causes progressive scarring and breathing problems. Our research focuses on capillary endothelial cells, which line the smallest blood vessels in the lung. Our research shows that endothelial cells lose their normal identity and become dysfunctional in IPF. Over the past year, we have made significant progress in defining how endothelial dysfunction contributes to fibrosis. We identified a signaling pathway (BDNF-TrkB) that helps maintain normal endothelial function and found that loss of this pathway worsens fibrosis in mice. In the coming year, we will test whether activating this pathway using specific agonists can help limit or halt fibrosis progression in aged mouse models, which better reflect IPF in humans.