Research
Our Pulmonary and Critical Care faculty physicians also are involved in research activities and in the training of medical students, residents and fellows. This research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as other agencies.
Our areas of research include:
- Ion and water transport in the lung
- Mathematical modeling of pulmonary function
- Mechanisms of asbestos injury
- Pulmonary edema
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary imaging in bone marrow transplant patients
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Current FaculResearch Interests
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Anuradha Dhanasekaran , Ph.D, is studying the role of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) in preventing apoptosis ( programmed cell death) in myocytes. Neonatal myocytes are isolated and studied along with HL-1 cells which can continuously divide and contract and maintain a differentiated adult cardiac phenotype.Apoptosis was induced in these cells using various stimuli such as staurosporine , Fas antibody and also by exposing the cells to hypoxia. Using these various models we are investigating the mechanism by which EETs inhibit apoptosis by studying the various significant mediators in the intrinsic and extrinsic pathway of apoptosis.
Marshall Dunning III, PhD, MS, is studying the breakdown products (e.g. carbon monoxide, methanol, and formate) of volatile inhalational anesthetics (e.g., sevoflurane, desflurane, and isoflurane) during their passage through desiccated carbon dioxide absorbents in anesthesia circuits, and the effects of carbon monoxide from cigarette smoking prior to surgery on cardiac rhythm (e.g. ST segment depression), in collaboration with investigators in the Department of Anesthesiology. Additionally he is investigating biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress (e.g., leukotrienes, cytokines, prostanoids, and aldehydes) found in exhaled breath condensate of individuals with COPD and asthma in collaboration with investigators in the Department.
Ileen Gilbert, MD is investigating high risk factors in the development and maintenance of asthma and chronic obstructive diseases and how best to minimize morbidity. Her research looks at health outcome disparities, the impact of physician and patient education on disease status, and best approaches to smoking cessation for various demographic groups.
Elizabeth Jacobs, MD, is investigating the role of endogenous lipid modulators of pulmonary vascular and airway tone.We use a wide variety of techniques, including whole organ studies (isolated perfused lungs or arterial and bronchial rings) to immunospecific protein identification, identification and quantitation of lipid metabolites of arachidonic acid, patch clamping for studies of ion channels in plasma membranes, cell signaling experiments (including fluorescent probe tracking of free intracellular ions such as calcium), and identification and sequencing of mRNA coding for proteins that catalyze the formation of biologically active lipid metabolites.
Randolph Lipchik, MD, has research interests in helical CT scanning for diagnosis of thromboembolic disease.
Meetha Medhora, PhD, is studying the function of lipid mediators in vascular remodeling, especially angiogenesis. We have developed recombinant adenovirus expressing genes that code for enzymes involved in synthesis of metabolites of arachidonic acid, for gene transfer into human lung microvascular endothelial cells. Using these vectors as well as other molecular techniques such as gene array analysis, we are characterizing the role of lipid mediators in endothelial cell gene expression and angiogenesis.
Robert Molthen, PhD, is part of a group of researchers utilizing the unique resources of the Keck Functional Imaging Laboratory located at the Zablocki VA Medical Center campus. The Keck lab imaging modalities currently include microfocal X-ray angiography and computed tomography as well as planar Gamma-ray and single positron emission computed tomography (SPECT). The group investigates the relationships between the intact structure (morphology) of the lung and its functional (physiology) status. Dr. Molthen's primary interest is pulmonary vascular remodeling which is associated with disorders such as pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic mountain sickknesshttp://www.eng.mu.edu/molthen/VAMC/PulmonaryGroup.html
Kenneth Presberg, MD, has research interests in pulmonary hypertension; pulmonary circulation: microhemodynamics and regulation of vasomotor tone, and nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease in immunocompromised hosts.
Ralph Schapira, MD, researches the comparison of "face to face" visits with delivery of care via telemedicine.
College Honors Chief of Pulmonary Medicine with School’s First Women Pioneers in Research Award
Two faculty scientists are the first to be honored in the Medical College of Wisconsin’s 
initiative to raise awareness of outstanding local women researchers.
Winners of the Women Pioneers in Research Awards are Elizabeth R Jacobs, MD, Professor of Medicine and Physiology and Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Michele A. Battle, PhD, a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy.
Dr. Jacobs will receive a $10,000 research award. Dr. Battle will receive the $1,000 Edward J. Lennon, M.D. Award for Outstanding Woman Postdoctoral Researcher. The awards were announced Sept. 27 at the College’s new Women in Science lecture series at the Women’s Club of Wisconsin. Earnestine Willis, MD, the College’s nationally-recognized maternal and child health researcher, discussed Health Literacy in the second lecture of the series.
“The awards were created to recognize women who have advanced research in their field and have served as mentors to other women scientists,” said T. Michael Bolger, JD, President and CEO.
Recognized by the Milwaukee Academy of Medicine in 2005 for distinguished service, Dr. Jacobs also directs the pulmonary & critical care research program. She has served as clinical director of the Medical College Cardiovascular Center. She received her fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Arkansas Medical Center, and in electrophysiology at Rush Medical College in Chicago.
As a translational research practitioner, her goal is to bring laboratory discoveries to the bedside, and then back to the lab for validation. Her clinical focus is on critical care, septic syndrome and lung injury. She is the principal investigator of two National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded grants – one to study the process of vascular damage by high blood pressure in the lungs, and the other to investigate the role of naturally-occurring lipid modulators in lung vascular and airway tone.
“Dr. Jacobs and collaborators have teamed for more than five years to facilitate adaptation of ideas derived in the basic science labs to the clinical sphere, and back to the lab again,” said Michael J. Dunn, MD, Dean and Executive Vice President. “Respected by the faculty, she is multi-talented, with excellent clinical skills, outstanding research, impressive leadership and a ready willingness to serve and represent the college.”
She received her MD degree and completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine after receiving her undergraduate degree from Marquette University.
Dr. Battle has been working in the laboratory of Stephen Duncan, DPhil, the Marcus Professor in Human and Molecular Genetics and Professor of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, since 2003. She is studying the mechanism of cholesterol absorption by the small intestine and making excellent progress, according to Dr. Duncan. The school’s postdoctoral office selected her for the award on the basis of her outstanding capabilities and productivity.
She is the winner of a National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for 2004-07, has published six research papers and made numerous invited presentations at national scientific sessions.
Dr. Battle received her PhD from Michigan State University in 2002, and her BS in biology and philosophy, summa cum laude, from the University of Scranton, Pa., in 1996.