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  5. Hasina Outtz-Reed, MD, PhD
Hasina Outtz-Reed, MD, PhD

Hasina Outtz-Reed, MD, PhD

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Research Project:
Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Crosstalk in Tertiary Lymphoid Organ Formation and Lung Injury

Grant Awarded:

  • Innovation Award

Research Topics:

  • basic biologic mechanisms
  • immunology immunotherapy
  • pathology

Research Diseases:

  • COPD
  • emphysema
  • pulmonary vascular disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects over 14 million individuals in the U.S and is the fourth leading cause of death. Cigarette smoke is the most common cause of this disease. However, underlying factors that determine why some individuals develop progressive COPD while others do not is not fully understood. The lung lymphatic vessels are a completely separate drainage system from blood vessels but play an important role in lung function. We have previously found that the lymphatic vessels are damaged in COPD, using both human tissue and animal models of this disease. We will determine the mechanisms by which the lung lymphatics affect the development of COPD after cigarette smoke exposure through interactions with the immune system.

Update:

Our research shows that problems with lymphatic vessels can lead to an autoimmune lung condition similar to emphysema in an animal model, especially when combined with cigarette smoke. We also found that lung tissue from emphysema patients has more lymphatic markers compared to COPD patients without emphysema. These findings are the first to suggest that lymphatic issues play a role in COPD with emphysema and autoimmunity. We aim to further explore how lymphatic dysfunction contributes to autoimmune emphysema and how this can guide new clinical treatments.

Page last updated: September 30, 2025

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