The Mikacenic lab is focused on understanding how lung immune cells contribute to inflammation, repair, and fibrosis.
Our translational approach uses well curated samples from clinical cohorts to perform deep immune profiling. We obtain alveolar lavage samples, lung tissue samples, and/or peripheral blood from patients with acute illnesses like sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We also study chronic lung conditions like interstitial lung disease and fibrosis that can occur in patients with and without autoimmune disease.
The goal of these studies is to understand how the immune system contributes to the development of lung injury or fibrosis in order to identify novel treatment strategies that will prevent or slow the progression of disease.
Carmen Mikacenic, MD
Lab Members
Holly Akilesh, PhD
Anne Chaize
Zoie Franklin
Sarah Holton, MD, PhD
Eric Morrell, MD
Research Projects
Systems Immunology Profiling of Respiratory Viral Infections in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Immune Checkpoints in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Macrophage Heterogeneity and Lung Inflammation and Fibrosis
Featured Publications
Research Bronchoscopies in Critically Ill Research Participants: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.
Association of Trauma Molecular Endotypes With Differential Response to Transfusion Resuscitation Strategies.
Alveolar Biomarker Profiles in Subphenotypes of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Plasma Interleukin-6 Predicts Clinical Decline After Completion of Dexamethasone Therapy in Severe COVID-19.
Angiopoietin-Like4 Is a Novel Marker of COVID-19 Severity.
Meet BRI's Summer 2023 Interns
Immunology to Change Lives: Where We're Going in 2023
BRI was formed with a clear plan: First, answer key fundamental questions about the immune system. Then, build on those answers to change lives. This is a very exciting time because we’re reaching that second stage of the plan.
$11.4 Million to Explore Link Between Viruses and Immune System Diseases
Understanding how viruses impact the immune system has long been a focus at BRI. Two years of pandemic life have made answering two questions particularly important: Can respiratory viruses like the common cold or COVID-19 start the chain reaction that leads to immune system disease?
BRI Investigators Jane Buckner, MD, and Carmen Mikacenic, MD, Interviewed on the Arthritis Life Podcast
Read MoreStudies on respiratory infections, type 1 diabetes, boosted with $17M to Benaroya Research Institute
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