I am currently the Director of the Center for Research in Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapies at UCSF (CTMCT). This center is focused on bringing together multidisciplinary groups of individuals to collaborate in the areas of transfusion medicine (TM) and cellular therapies (CT). I am by training a translational vascular biologist with an interest in the role of endothelial dysfunction and vascular compromise in the pathogenesis of human disease. My specific areas of investigation involve the use of stem cell therapies and novel resuscitation modalities that can mitigate endothelial dysfunction and improve outcomes in traumatic injury. Areas of focus in the lab include traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hemorrhagic shock-induced organ failure.

Abnormalities in vascular permeability leading to inflammation, tissue edema, and end-organ dysfunction significantly contribute to the morbidity and mortality associated with a number of human disease processes. For example, although a number of factors contribute to the high mortality and morbidity associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), the development of cerebral edema with brain swelling remains one of the most significant predictors of outcome. Similarly, both hemorrhagic shock and septic shock are characterized by abnormal vascular permeability, which contributes to the development of shock-associated acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Despite the clear importance of abnormal vascular permeability in a number of human disease processes, there exists no therapeutic modality in current use to attenuate it. Our lab's focus is to understand the mechanisms of action that lead to organ failure in traumatic injury and to also discover novel therapies that improve outcomes. We are and have been part of number of pre-clinical and clinical trials investigating the therapeutic potential of stem cells, stem cell derived factors and novel blood products. This has led to exciting new avenues for the discovery of novel therapeutic agents that mitigate vascular injury.