Our Faculty’s research programs encompass a broad spectrum of studies aimed at understanding chronic inflammation and disease. These internationally recognized investigators have already made substantial contributions to advance our understanding of pathologic inflammation, remodeling and fibrosis, and the development of human disease.
Building from roots in fundamental life sciences and clinical medicine, scientists in the Department of Pathobiology are closely integrated across departments and divisions, and across the spectrum of clinical care to basic research. The research of the department is laboratory-based but also interfaces with field and clinical studies. The research activities focus on the causal factors of disease and the development of new knowledge to understand disease processes, means for disease detection and identification, factors responsible for disease dynamics in a population, and novel measures of disease prevention. The Department fosters multi-disciplinary research teams, which create an environment in which new scientific knowledge can be translated into direct benefits for patients.
Pathobiology’s depth and breadth of expertise are enhanced by valuable contributions from staff members who have joint appointments in other departments and centers, including the Digestive Diseases Institute, the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research, The Respiratory Institute, the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program and the Asthma Research Center.
Pathobiology Staff had excellent productivity in research funding and publications in 2009, with 84 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 40 active grants [NIH R01, R21, R37, K-award series, P01 grants]. Three clinical corporate grants are administered in Pathobiology as well as a Third Frontier Grant.
Pathobiology offers a range of educational and research opportunities to high-school students and undergraduates, as well as graduate and post-graduate education. The department supports mentorship via NIH fellowship grants, K awards and Training grants. Graduate and undergraduate research opportunities are offered through Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland State University (CSU), Kent State University (KSU) and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) or the Howard Hughes supported Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine. Many department members are actively involved in the medical education curriculum in CCLCM; Drs. Aulak, Comhair and Majors.