Russell P. Bowler, MD, PhD
Department Chair
Email: [email protected]
Location: Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Research
The Bowler Lab seeks to understand how smoke inhalation from cigarettes and e-cigarettes/vapes (tobacco and cannabis) causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Because the widespread, legal use of marijuana and e-cigarettes/vapes is so new, the effects of these types of inhaled smokes on our lungs are not fully understood. Similarly, while the effects of tobacco smoke and cigarettes on our lungs are well known, the biological processes causing these effects are not. Understanding the “whats,” “hows,” and “whys” behind smoke inhalation risks is necessary to help people make informed decisions about their health and habits.
Our lab employs a combination of computational and experimental techniques to achieve our goals.
- We integrate genetic, protein and metabolic data to identify biological factors that can be used as diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic targets.
- We work with clinical and patient cohorts to observe the impact of inhaled smoke on lung disease in humans.
- We use preclinical models to directly understand the impact of inhaled smoke on lung disease.
- We use wearable sensors and artificial intelligence/machine learning to develop algorithms for at-home detection of COPD exacerbations.
Biography
Russell Bowler, MD, PhD, is a practicing physician-scientist with over 25 years of experience as a pulmonologist and researcher. He is trained in mathematical and computational sciences, cell and developmental biology, internal medicine and pulmonary critical care. Dr. Bowler built his research program on learning about how biological and environmental factors influence someone's risk of developing lung diseases.
Dr. Bowler is one of the highest-cited proteomics experts in the world and has published over 300 manuscripts. His research is supported by federally funded grants and industry contracts and has led to multiple patents. He is a leader of genetics, proteomics and multi-omics in the NIH TransOmic Precision Medicine Program.
Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Bowler was director of the Precision Medicine Program at National Jewish Health in Colorado.
Education & Professional Highlights
Education
- 1988 BS, Math-Computer Science with Distinction. Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
- 1993 MD. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
- 1993 – 1996 Internship and Residency. UCSF, Department of Internal Medicine
- 1996 – 2000 Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship. University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
- 2001 PhD. University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Department of Cell and Structural Biology
Professional Highlights
- 2023 Keynote, American Thoracic Society Innovation Summit
- 2017 Elected, American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI)
- 2008 Career Investigator Award, American Lung Association 2001
"CIMER Trained Mentor" indicates the principal investigator has completed mentorship training based on curriculum from the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research, aimed at advancing mentoring relationships and promoting cultural change in research.
Research
Overview
The Bowler lab integrates high-throughput genomic, proteomic, and metabolic data from population-based studies (COPDGene and SPIROMICS) to understand the molecular mechanisms of how inhaled tobacco and cannabis smoke (cigarette and e-cig/vape) causes COPD. We seek to identify diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers that contribute to:
- An individual's overall risk of developing COPD.
- The progression of COPD in an individual.
We have many ongoing in vitro, in vivo and in silico projects.
GWAS, Genome, Metabolome and proteome profiles of emphysema and airway disease in smoking and nonsmoking humans
Recent technical advances in multi-omic platforms (genetics, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) allow us to conduct high-throughput, large scale investigations into the molecular basis of complex lung diseases like COPD and emphysema. We have created a 2000 subject cohort of current and former smokers with and without COPD and emphysema within the NIH sponsored COPDGene® cohort.
In recently published pilot studies, we have shown that we integrated and leveraged these multi-omic studies to identify novel molecular pathways that appear to be deranged in certain patients with COPD and emphysema. Examples of these pathways include ceramide/sphingolipid and Arghef1 signaling.
Cigarette smoke inducing endogenous oxidant injury
We have developed preclinical models to study the interplay between genetics and environmental factors in COPD. We use gene knock-outs to examine the effects of cigarette smoke inhalation in relation to COPD and emphysema. We seek to inhibit metabolic targets identified in our multi-omic patient analyses, to in turn inhibit key pathogenic mechanisms of smoke-induced lung disease.
New biologic therapies for COPD
In preclinical models we have found molecular therapies that specifically target pathways identified in our multi-omic integrations (e.g. sphingosine 1-phosphate analogues and thromboxane antagonists respectively) and can reverse some of the COPD and emphysema-like changes caused by cigarette smoke.
We seek to leverage data from larger, more diverse population studies of COPD and emphysema patients to identify more pathways that can be targeted for drug development. We are currently following up on multiple inflammation-related genes to achieve our goals.
Vaping effects on young adults
We have ongoing studies investigating the effects of vaping on individuals aged 18-25. Efforts to establish a study cohort in Northeast Ohio are ongoing.
Our Team
Selected Publications
View publications for Russell P. Bowler, MD, PhD
(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)
Bowler Russell P. Dynamic and prognostic proteomic associations with FEV decline in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. medRxiv. 2024. 39148837.
Erzurum Serpil C, Zein Joe. Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting the expression of COVID-19-relevant genes in the large airway epithelium. Genome Med. 2021. 33883027.
Lowe Katherine E. COPDGene 2019: Redefining the Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2019. 31710793.
Careers
Dr. Bowler has mentored over 30 trainees, including students and postdoctoral researchers. He is strongly committed to nurturing the future generation of researchers, physicians, critical thinkers and leaders. Specific job postings are listed below, but all interested applicants are encouraged to reach out.
In the Bowler Lab, we love what we do! We chase the thrill of discovery, and we are proud of our contributions to improving one of the most prevalent public health issues facing our generation. We’re looking for people who feel the same; the Bowler lab is seeking driven postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate researchers! Please send a CV and a letter of interest to [email protected] and [email protected].
Postdoctoral applicants must be comfortable with standard wet lab techniques, comfortable working with murine models, and have a background in pulmonary/lung-related research.
It is suggested that student applicants be comfortable with/have a background in coding and computational work, though all are welcome to apply!
Research News
Targeted metabolic age therapies may help slow or prevent disease progression in young people with “diseases of advanced age.”