According to Xu, the grant aims to resolve the molecular basis of calcium entry and reveal a novel anti-inflammatory therapy for inflammatory lung disease. Inflammation contributes to lung edema, which makes it difficult to get oxygen into the blood.
“This award allows me to test if two calcium entry channels interact to regulate how much calcium enters the endothelium - as an initiating signal for development of pulmonary edema,” said Xu.
Dr. Troy Stevens, Lenoir Louise Locke Chair of Physiology and Cell Biology, is Xu’s mentor. "It is a privilege to mentor talented students, helping them to have a lasting impact in the biomedical sciences and to prepare for an independent scientific career," Dr. Stevens said.
