The main focus of Dr. Bauer's laboratory is to understand the role of the immune system in lung pathophysiologies, such as pulmonary hypertension. The presence of immune cells in patients’ pulmonary lesions points to a role of the immune system in this disease. We are especially interested in understanding the role of endogenous innate immune mediators (i.e.HMGB1), and receptors (Toll- like receptors), as well as the interplay of innate immune cells such as Natural Killer cells, Neutrophils, and Macrophages. Using a variety of rodent disease models coupled with genetically modified mice and cell culture models we explore the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of this disease. We further aim to learn lessons from cancer immunotherapies by applying their mechanisms to our lung-pathophysiologies.
At a more basic scientific level we try to get an in depth understanding of HMGB1’s interaction with toll-like receptors, its nuclear role, its travel through the three dimensional cell, and the purpose of HMGB1’s newly identified binding partners by us and our colleagues in the department of surgery.
Another interest of the lab is to advance our understanding of the immune system in inflammatory lung pathologies by collaborating with Dr. Carolyn Anderson in the Department of Radiology to image immune cells in our in vivo models using positron emission tomography.
