Binoy Shivanna, M.D., D.M.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition in people whose lungs are severely injured. These patients need oxygen to save their lives. But the high oxygen levels that these patients need can also escalate their underlying lung injury. We will study whether a hormone named adrenomedullin (AM) can protect and help the lungs to heal from oxygen damage. In particular, we will investigate whether AM protects the lungs by decreasing the levels of an enzyme called NOX that causes lung damage from oxygen. Our studies can lead to improved therapies such as the use of AM to prevent and treat ARDS.

Update: Our results so far suggests that high AM levels protect mouse lungs from oxygen damage and low AM levels increase oxygen damage in human lung cells. We will further investigate whether AM protects the lungs by decreasing the levels of NOX. Our studies can lead to improved therapies such as the use of AM to prevent and treat ARDS.