Dr. Alexander Hillel is a junior faculty member in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where his clinical practice is dedicated to the medical and surgical management of voice and airway disorders. With the support of a Mentored Career Development Award, Dr. Hillel seeks to better understand the inflammatory mechanisms of laryngotracheal fibrosis (LTF) and apply regenerative medicine techniques to its treatment. Specifically, Dr. Hillel will be focusing on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which has been shown to activate the same type of T cells and macrophages in pulmonary fibrosis that has been observed in early models of LTF. Ultimately, he plans to develop a drug-eluting stent to target the immune mechanisms.
Aim 1 will characterize the inflammatory response to mechanical injury in the mouse trachea and then determine the role of mTOR in regulating macrophages and T-lymphocytes that precede LTF in a novel in vivo in situ mouse model.
Aim 2 will characterize the role of macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and their inflammatory cytokines in patient with and patients at risk for developing LTF. Finally, Aim 2 will focus on identifying an ideal bioabsorbable polymer to engineer a drug-eluting airway stent targeting mechanisms identified in earlier aims. During the course of this proposal, Dr. Hillel will enhance his research knowledge and skills with coursework in immunology, biostatistics, and ethical research, receive directed mentorship by an interdisciplinary team of experienced researchers, and be immersed in the interdisciplinary research and clinical environments of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Laryngeal Research Group at The Wisconsin Institute of Medical Research in Madison, Wisconsin. This Career Development Award will provide Dr. Hillel with the resources that he needs to become an independent investigator and future leader in voice science research.

Public Health Relevance

Laryngotracheal fibrosis (obstructing scar in the larynx and trachea) occurs in patients after long-term breathing tube placement and can result in communication disability and high mortality rates due to the obstructed airway. The critical barrier to improving treatment for laryngotracheal fibrosis is the limited understanding the cells and their signaling that result in the development of scar. This proposal will study the role of immune cells that may promote scar formation and apply a materials science strategy for topical therapy in the larynx and trachea.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
1K23DC014082-01A1
Application #
8967057
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Rivera-Rentas, Alberto L
Project Start
2015-08-01
Project End
2020-07-31
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2016-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$238,922
Indirect Cost
$17,698
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
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