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Recent Publications

Education:

DVM University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (1992)
PhD University of Minnesota (2001)
Postdoctoral Fellow: Yale University (2001–2003)
National Jewish Medical and Research Center (2003–2004)

Research Interests : Pulmonary Inflammation and Host Defense

The primary focus of my laboratory is to understand the role of receptor-mediated signaling upon binding of bacteria and/or their products in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases in the lung. In particular, we are interested in determining the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their adaptors in the development of innate immune response in the lung in a murine model. We use LPS-derived from bacteria to induce acute lung injury and use Klebsiella pneumoniae , Streptococcus pneumoniae , Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Legionella pneumophila to induce pneumonia. Another focus of my laboratory is to delineate the role of a neutrophil chemokine CXCL5 in lung inflammation and host defense. Appropriate gene-deficient mice and human and murine primary cells are being used. The goal of this research is to resolve the mechanisms by which these bacteria and/or their products cause inflammation in the lung, and ultimately to design novel treatment and prevention strategies to attenuate excessive inflammation.

Current Funding
American Lung Association
Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute
NIH COBRE Program