"Acidosis is common during pneumonia; however, the way acidosis impacts lung injury and repair is poorly understood," said Dr. Troy Stevens, professor and chair of physiology and cell biology at the USA College of Medicine and director of the USA Center for Lung Biology. "Dr. Lee has resolved a mechanism that seems to be essential to the lung’s injury and repair program. Her work is highly innovative, and the completion of the work she has proposed may change treatment options in pneumonia and minimize the need for fluids, electrolytes, alcohol or surgery that have been major complicating factors for current acidosis therapies. This work will set the stage for Dr. Lee’s career as an independent clinical-scientist.”
Dr. Lee said, “When I came to USA five years ago for a pulmonary and critical care fellowship, I had a dream of conducting translational research; however, I was not equipped to be an independent investigator. My amazing mentors and role models, Drs. Troy Stevens, Karen Fagan and Brian Fouty, transformed me into a competitive candidate for extramural funding, in addition to other profound influences they had on me. As I have worked closely with Center for Lung Biology and Pulmonary and Critical Care division, I can confidently tell our fellows they are in an exceptional environment to grow as academic pulmonologists."
Dr. Lee credits other mentors and supporters who made this award possible: Drs. Errol Crook, Ronald Balczon, Mikhail Alexeyev, Thomas Rich, Diego Alvarez, Mary Townsley, John Marymont and Edmund Miller (Feinstein Institute for Medical Research); faculty and fellows of pulmonary division; Dr. Stevens’ lab members; assistance with animal protocol by Dr. Michele Schuler; administrative support by Jennifer Collins, Charlene Jordan and Jennifer Chaplin; and helpful advice on grant writing by Drs. Jon Simmons and Soo Jung Cho (Cornell University).
The American Heart Association has funded more heart disease and stroke research than any organization outside the federal government, thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters.
