Research

Faculty and fellows of the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine are engaged in a wide range of clinical, translational, and basic investigation related to pediatric pulmonary diseases.

Mai ElMallah, MD, MS, Chief
Areas of interest: Neuromuscular clinical research. Basic and translational research to identify the causes of respiratory insufficiency in neuromuscular disorders. 

Tariq Muzamil Ali-Dinar, MBBS
Areas of interest: Clinical research in sickle cell disease and sleep-disordered breathing.

Jason Lang, MD
Areas of interest: Clinical and translational research to better understand and improve lung conditions to improve the quality of life for children, including projects focused on nutritional supplements in asthma, obesity and asthma, optimal treatment for exacerbations, impact of exercise on asthma characteristics.

Shatha Wajih Yousef, MBBS
Areas of interest: Clinical research in cystic fibrosis.

Nour Akil, MD
Areas of interest: Clinical research in sickle cell disease and in high risk asthma.

Angela Roger, PhD
Areas of interest: Basic science research to study the impact of novel therapies for respiratory insufficiency in neuromuscular disorders. 

• Leukotriene receptor blockade for the treatment of airway hyperresponsiveness in bronchiolitis
• Inhaled tobracmycin in a dry powder formulation for cystic fibrosis
• Newer formulations of pancreatic enzyme therapy for cystic fibrosis

Participation in national clinical trials sponsored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation have led to the establishment of the following therapies:

• Human recombinant DNase by inhalation
• Amiloride
• Inhaled tobramycin

Basic research in the Division is currently sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Industry sponsored grants in the Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Division:

• Optimizing Gene Therapy for Respiratory Insufficiency in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
• Alveolar injury and repair in Pompe Disease

Current and recent fellows have worked on the following projects:

• Antibiotic regulation of airway smooth muscle responsiveness
• Lung injury mediated by reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species
• Pulmonary outcomes of sickle cell disease therapy
• Pulmonary function standards in African-American children
• Maturation of pulmonary anti-oxidant defenses
• Genetic regulation of genotype/phenotype expression in cystic fibrosis
• Role of platelet-activating factor in human asthmatic airway remodeling
• Contractile function of CHASM, a novel smooth muscle contractile protein
• Role of chloride channels in airway smooth muscle relaxation

For further information about clinical trials currently being conducted in the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, please visit dukechildrens.org.