Particulate matter is a worldwide health concern. The World Health Organization has reported that globally, air pollution leading to cardiopulmonary disease and complications accounts for seven million deaths yearly. Particulate matter is not only a significant component of ambient air pollution, but also of World Trade Center exposures. There might be a possibility to treat or even prevent cardiopulmonary injury if we find any cardiopulmonary vascular dysfunction at early stage.

In the Nolan Lab, we are currently focused on using mouse models to investigate the effect of World Trade Center dust exposure on lung function. We also are investigating the roles and interaction of the receptor for advanced glycation end productions (RAGE) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a cholesterol derivative. We use RAGE knockout mice and in vitro experiments to further our understanding of the mechanism behind particulate matter exposure-induced lung injury. Additionally, we use a systems biology approach to understand the biological complexity of particulate matter exposure in humans exposed to World Trade Center-particulate matter (WTC-PM).

Our Collaborators

We proudly collaborate with the following research groups:

• National Institutes of Health Eastern Regional Metabolomics Resource Core (ERCMRC)
• Bellevue/NYU Occupational Environmental Medicine Clinic
• Mount Sinai World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center
• NYU Langone’s Department of Population Health

In the News

Understanding Why Some 9/11 Rescue Workers Experienced Lung Disease and Others Didn’t
NYU Langone Health News, Pulmonology and Lung Surgery Highlights, 2019–2020

Heart Risk Factors May Predict Lung Damage In 9/11 Responders
Reuters Health, 2019

Metabolites May Predict Lung Injury in 9/11 First Responders
The Scientist, 2019

Natural ‘Breakdown’ of Chemicals May Guard Against Lung Damage in 9/11 First Responders
NYU Langone Health News, 2019

World Trade Center Dust-Inhalation: Assessing the Fallout
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2015