Dr. Wanda O鈥橬eal (Professor, Medicine and Genetics (secondary)) was awarded a new grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for her project titled 鈥淗ypoxia signaling: a therapeutic target for cystic fibrosis lung disease鈥�.
The proposed research focuses on three aims: Aim 1, address the hypothesis that the chromatin in basal cells is altered by chronic hypoxia. Aim 2, explore the hypothesis that HIF1A and EPAS1 regulate specific targets independent of inflammatory signaling. Understanding the differences will guide therapeutic development. A focus on small airways will increase relevance to early CF lung disease, when targeting these pathways may be most beneficial. Aim 3, explore the hypothesis that state-of-the art hypoxia-reporter mice, combined with disease models and hypoxia signaling inhibitors, will allow exploration of therapeutic targets and disease mechanisms.