Labs by division

Advancing understanding of vaccine effectiveness in diverse populations, the Kao Lab focuses on evaluating how vaccines perform in special groups to inform strategies that improve protection and public health outcomes. Led by Carol M. Kao, MD, MSCI, our team combines clinical insight with rigorous research to address critical questions in immunization and ensure equitable, evidence-based care.

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Exploring novel mechanisms of lung injury during mechanical ventilation and critical care, the Katira Lab is dedicated to developing personalized strategies for respiratory support and lung protection in critically ill patients. Leveraging expertise in large animal models and advanced cardio-respiratory tools such as electrical impedance tomography, we translate cutting-edge research into approaches that improve outcomes and redefine standards of care.

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Investigating the molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying pediatric liver disease, this laboratory focuses on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury and liver transplantation outcomes to advance therapies that improve liver health and recovery in children. Its research integrates translational and clinical approaches to better understand liver injury, inflammation, regeneration and long-term transplant outcomes.

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Focusing on pediatric gastrointestinal research, this lab investigates dietary fat digestion and the biological mechanisms underlying chronic pancreatitis, aiming to advance understanding of pancreatic disease and improve clinical outcomes for children through basic and translational research.

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Investigating the role of serpins in maintaining cellular balance and understanding rare genetic disorders, our lab explores how disruptions in protease-serpin interactions contribute to disease. By studying mechanisms of cell stress, protease activity and serpin blockade, we aim to uncover pathways that lead to tissue damage and dysfunction. Our work includes modeling variants of uncertain significance through the Undiagnosed Diseases Network to advance diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for conditions such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and other serpinopathies.

Luke research profile
Pak research profile
Silverman research profile

Critical insights into causes of childhood leukemia and pioneering prevention strategies our lab investigates how leukemias arise from normal blood-forming stem cells, how malignant cells hijack developmental programs and why childhood and adult leukemias differ genetically. Using innovative mouse models we study leukemia evolution during early life and assess how stressors such as chemotherapy contribute to disease. Our goal is to develop new approaches to treat and ultimately prevent childhood leukemia.

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Advancing treatments for blood diseases through innovative cellular therapy research, our center focuses on immune regulation in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the development of novel platforms for cell-based therapies. By uncovering mechanisms of immune tolerance, enhancing regulatory immune cells to prevent graft-versus-host disease and designing safer cancer-targeting strategies, we aim to transform HSCT into a more effective and less toxic cure. Our bench-to-bedside approach drives breakthroughs that offer patients long, healthy lives.

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Investigating actin cytoskeleton’s role in immune cell shape and motility our lab studies how dynamic changes in the actin cytoskeleton regulate immune cell movement and activation. Using models lacking the actin-binding protein L-plastin we explore its role in B cells and alveolar macrophages and employ pneumococcal infection models to uncover mechanisms that impact immune defense in children.

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Harnessing data science and artificial intelligence to prevent neonatal brain injury, our lab focuses on understanding neurological damage in newborns and developing predictive tools to guide neuroprotective strategies. By integrating large multimodal datasets — including EHR, NIRS, EEG, MRI and vital signs — we study mechanisms of injury in preterm and term infants and design AI-driven algorithms to improve bedside care. Through clinical trials and collaborative research, we aim to transform outcomes for the most vulnerable patients.

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Unlocking the mechanisms of immune regulation to combat severe inflammation and cytokine storm syndromes our lab investigates how immune responses are controlled to prevent fatal reactions. We use in vitro and in vivo approaches to identify key genes and pathways, focusing on autophagy and its role in protecting macrophages and preventing cytokine storm. Our goal is to develop host-directed therapies for infectious and inflammatory disorders.

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