MPP research projects in Pulmonary Physiology and Oxygen Toxicity investigate the molecular, cellular and systemic mechanisms involved in maintaining gas exchange within the airways. Current projects include:

• Studying the mechanisms underlying the effects of O2, CO2 and barometric pressure on the function of the mammalian CNS, with an emphasis on the cardio-respiratory and gastro-esophageal control systems.
• Investigating the neurophysiology of CNS oxygen toxicity-induced seizures.
• Investigating the signaling and molecular mechanisms of lung microvascular permeability during inflammation, trauma, infection and sepsis.
• Investigating the neural component of airway disease such as asthma (i.e. cough, mucus secretion, bronchospasm, wheeze) by identifying the structure and connectivity of the various airway sensory nerve subtypes, characterized their sensitivity to pollutants, irritants, inflammatory mediators and mitochondrial dysfunction, and targeting their activity using pharmacological and electroceutical approaches.
• Determining a systems-level understanding of the function and plasticity of brainstem neural networks involved in cardiorespiratory control and airway protective reflexes.