PI: Leigh M. Marsh
Focus: Chronic lung diseases (CLD) such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis, are often complicated by the presence of pulmonary hypertension, and represent an increasing cause of death in the aging population. Multiple immune cells contribute to disease progression, leading to both parenchymal, and vascular remodelling. Building on our data gained within the framework of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, we aim to understand the deeper dynamics of these immune cells by going beyond individual populations and focusing on comprehensive inflammatory profiles.
Our group combines computational flow cytometry, single-cell- and spatial- transcriptomic analyses, with advanced data modelling, to dissect the interaction and interdependence of immune cells and determine their contribution to disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, we seek to understand metabolic reprogramming of lung epithelial and immune cell populations using established pre-clinical models (e.g. asthma, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis and COPD) together with clinically relevant readouts. Together these strategies help us to identify potential disease-modifying treatment strategies for chronic lung diseases.
Networking: Our workgroup enjoys several close collaborations with other members of the Otto Loewi Research center (ORLC), clinical divisions, and the Respimmun doctoral college. These include Grazyna Kwapiszewska-Marsh (Vascular remodelling) and Slaven Crnkovic (Cellular heterogeneity) and the research groups of Eva Böhm and Akos Heinemann (Division of Pharmacology) and Stefano Angiari / Herbert Strobl (Division for Immunology). Outside the ORLC, we have long-term collaborations with Nikolaus Kneidinger / Gabor Kovacs (Division of Respiratory Medicine, Medical University of Graz) and Gregor Gorkiewicz / Gerald Höfler (Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz). External collaborations include Robab Breyer-Kohansal (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health, Vienna), Jonas Erjefält (Lund University), Gabriele Grunig (New York University School of Medicine), Francesca Polverino (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA), Bernd Schmeck (Phillips University Marburg, DE), and Anne Karina T. Perl (Cincinnati Children's Hospital, University of Cincinnati, USA).
