News
Eric Merrell Publishes Editorial in Chest
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Pulmonary post-doctoral fellow and Pulmonary T32 Trainee Eric Merrell, M.D. was 1st author on an editorial in Chest titled “Is tissue the issue when it comes to severe asthma?”. The editorial highlights the importance of accurate patient characterization when it comes defining endotypes of severe asthma. Congratulations Eric!
Imran Rahir Receives Shock Society Presidential Travel Award
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Biology graduate student and Pulmonary T32 Trainee Imran Rahir was awarded a Shock Society Presidential Travel Award to attend the 48th Annual Conference on Shock in Boston and present his cutting-edge research on regulation of lung capillary permeability by mTOR proteins. Congratulations Imran!
10 small things neurologists wish you’d do for your brain
Thursday, April 3, 2025
There’s growing research linking air pollution exposure to cognitive decline; scientists think very fine, inhalable particles in the air could trigger chemical changes once they reach the brain, says Deborah Cory-Slechta, a professor of environmental medicine and of neuroscience. She adds that wearing an N95 or surgical mask and using indoor air filters on days when air quality is worse (including because of wildfire smoke) can minimize your exposure.
Read More: 10 small things neurologists wish you’d do for your brainDr. Elder featured in Nature: "Your brain is full of microplastics: are they harming you?"
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Plastics might affect each organ or cell type differently. The dose matters, too, as well as the route of ingestion, says Alison Elder, an associate professor of environmental medicine. “The inhalation route is a major concern because if inhaled plastics can get into the deep lung and cause an inflammatory reaction, they don’t need to go anywhere to cause health outcomes.”
Read More: Dr. Elder featured in Nature: "Your brain is full of microplastics: are they harming you?"70 countries have banned this pesticide. It’s still for sale in the US
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
The Washington Post, January 22
“The data is the data,” says Deborah Cory-Slechta, a professor of environmental medicine and of neuroscience. She says paraquat exposure is associated with the loss of dopamine neurons, which can cause slow and uncoordinated movements, tremors, and difficulty communicating, all of which are consistent with Parkinson’s disease.
“The evidence is very strong, both based on animal studies and on epidemiological evidence the fact that it kills dopamine neurons,” she said.