Professor, Department of Medicine
Professor, Department of Environmental Medicine
We have been studying predictors of lung function loss in firefighters who never smoked from the World Trade Center (WTC) exposed Fire Department of New York (FDNY) cohort. This well phenotyped group has pre-9/11/01 (9/11) clinical/spirometric data and continues to have serial post-9/11 assessments. Our group has demonstrated that mediators of Metabolic Syndrome, inflammation and vascular injury in serum sampled within six months of 9/11 are predictive of eventual abnormal lung function. Lipids and their metabolites have been linked to pulmonary inflammation and subsequent airflow obstruction. The mechanism of lipid-induced pulmonary inflammation is poorly understood. Metabolites of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cause vascular injury. In preliminary data we demonstrate that elevated serum levels of one such LDL byproduct soon after intense WTC dust exposure is a risk factor for developing abnormal forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) years later. Development of ventilatory dysfunction following particulate exposure is a major health concern worldwide. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high in industrialized nations and is rapidly increasing in developing nations with high ambient particulates. The interaction of these two disorders is a topic of considerable importance. Our work will define the additive inflammatory effects of lipid mediators on a background of particulate matter exposure.
212-263-7283
462 1st Avenue, New Bellevue
16, S 16(Office)/ N 20 (Lab)
New York, NY 10016
MD from SUNY-Downstate
Fellowship, New York University School of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care
Residency, St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Medicine
New York University, Masters in Clinical Investigation
Nature medicine. 2022 Mar; 28(3):468-471
American journal of respiratory & critical care medicine. 2021 Nov 01; 204(9):1035-1047
PLoS computational biology. 2021 Jul; 17(7):e1009144
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open. 2021 Apr; 2(2):e12407
Respiratory research. 2021 Jan 18; 22(1):19
ERJ open research. 2021 Jan; 7(1):