COBRE Center for Lung Biology Research
Lung disease is the third most frequent cause of death in this country, claiming ~360,000 Americans annually. Tragically, an additional 25 million live with chronic lung diseases including asthma, emphysema, cancer and cystic fibrosis. Unfortunately, the number of individuals with lung disease is increasing at an alarming rate, thus, a better understanding of the etiology of lung disease and new therapeutics to treat lung disease are required.
The goals of the Dartmouth Lung Biology Center, funded by a COBRE award by the NCRR since 2003 (P20-RR01878), are to enhance the research efforts of our faculty and students by:
1.integration of the COBRE supported Cores (Cell Biology and Discovery, Advanced Imaging and Translational research) with shared services of other DMS, DHMC and other IDeA supported Cores including Bioinformatics and Biostatistics;
2.fostering synergistic scientific collaboration through the four COBRE Research Projects, associated Cores, and other basic and translational infrastructure and programs at DMS/DHMC, including the Immunology COBRE and Dartmouth INBRE programs;
3.mentoring and supporting the career development of all faculty in the program, and;
4.providing administrative support.
The four COBRE/Center funded projects are:
Project 1 - Molecular Mechanisms of Aurora Kinase A Dysfunction in Lung Cancer Principal Investigator: Scott Gerber, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Genetics
Project 2 - A Novel Regulator of P. Aeruginosa Virulence Genes Principal Investigator: Deborah Hogan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Project 3 - Humanizing Alginate Depolymerase: New Strategies for De-immunizing Enzyme Therapies Principal Investigator: Karl Griswold, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Engineering
Project 4 - Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel: Exposure Profiles and Public Health Consequences Principal Investigator: Nora Traviss, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Keene State College
The Center also funds nine pilot and feasibility projects, with support from the COBRE, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Hitchcock Foundation:
P&F Project 1 - Microbiome of the CF Lung: Impact of Iron and Antibiotics
Principal Investigator: George O'Toole, Ph.D.
P&F Project 2 - Damaging Effects of Bacterial-fungal Co-infection of the Lung Principal Investigator: Deborah Hogan, Ph.D.
P&F Project 3 - Iron Chelation Therapy with Lactoferrin
Principal Investigator: Bruce Stanton, Ph.D.
P&F Project 4 - Development of CAL Inhibitors for CFTR Functional Rescue
Principal Investigator: Dean Madden, Ph.D.
P&F Project 5 - Anti-Pseudomonal Synergy of Engineered Lysozymes and Orthogonal Antibiotics
Principal Investigator: Karl Griswold, Ph.D.
P&F Project 6 - Phagocytic Mechanisms of Pseudomonas Clearance within the CF lung
Principal Investigator: Brent Berwin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
P&F Project 7 - Evaluation of Iron-Related Hematologic Parameters in Adult Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Principal Investigators: Dr. Worth Parker, Associate Professor of Medicine and Dr. Alex Gifford, Assistant Professor of Medicine
P&F Project 8 - The Developing Infant with Cystic Fibrosis: Mapping the Microbiome in Health and Disease
Principal Investigator: Juliette Madan, M.D
P&F Project 9 - Impact of Antibiotics on the CF Microbiome
Principal Investigator: George O'Toole, Ph.D.
Dr. Juliette Madan has received the prestigious Harry Shwachman Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Investigator Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The award provides salary support for three years and is for promising, clinically trained physicians who are committed to developing their CF-related research.
The 
On Oct. 6 the Dartmouth Lung Biology Center and the CF Research Development Program sponsored the first annual Dartmouth CF Scientific retreat. 69 scientists and trainees from Dartmouth, Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Vermont, the University of Maine, as well as Novartis, Genzyme, and Flatley Drug Discovery attended the day long scientific retreat. Talks were presented on Pseudomonas infection of the airways, CF drug discovery, and translational CF research. The format of the meeting enhanced interactions and the meeting culminated in a dinner followed by a poster session. 
