Margaret Salisbury, MD, MS is a Pulmonary and Critical Care physician at the University of Michigan. This K23 mentored career development application includes a coordinated 5-year plan of training and research activities designed to advance Dr. Salisbury toward her long-term goal of becoming an independent physician-scientist conducting patient-oriented research on fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD). ILD affects up to 1 in 14 American adults, with hypersensitivity pneumonia (HP) prevalent among these. HP results from immune system activation following antigen inhalation, and is heterogeneous in terms of clinical presentation and disease biology. The fibrotic form is associated with poor survival and a comparable course to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The host immunologic response and microbes present in the lungs (the ?lung microbiome?) likely influence ILD outcomes. Understanding how these biologic variables relate to fibrosis and disease progression represents a key step toward developing effective, personalized treatments for patients with HP and other fibrotic ILD, thereby improving the prognosis of these life- threatening diseases.
The specific Aims of this project are to: 1) Identify differences across ILD diagnosis groups (e.g. HP and IPF) in the host immune response and lung microbiome composition at the time of diagnosis; and 2) Identify key host immune response and lung microbiome markers that predict subsequent lung function change. To complete these aims, Dr. Salisbury will conduct a prospective cohort study of ILD patients undergoing diagnostic lung sampling procedures, with host response and lung microbiome markers measured in concurrently-collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Identified HP and IPF patients will undergo serial pulmonary function measurement in the year following the diagnostic procedure. Mixed effects models will identify baseline host response and microbiome variables independently predictive of pulmonary function trajectory. In completion of this project, Dr. Salisbury will gain experience in the study of lung immunology, microbial ecology, and clinical research methods. These skills will complement her existing expertise in clinical care of patients with ILD, and already-completed didactic training in clinical research methods. The training plan includes intensive mentorship by experts in clinical trials (Kevin Flaherty, MD MS), lung immunology (Bethany Moore, PhD), microbial ecology (Gary Huffnagle, PhD), and biostatistics (Susan Murray, ScD), select coursework, and participation in a scientific community. Completion of this progressively independent research project will lead to study of therapeutic manipulation of the host immune response and/or lung microbiome in subsequent R01, U01, and/or R21 applications. Dr. Salisbury?s unique resources include access to a dedicated team of co-mentors and advisors with whom she has long- standing collaborations. The University of Michigan has an outstanding research infrastructure, actively supports junior investigators, and offers advanced courses in relevant disciplines.
Hypersensitivity pneumonia (HP), caused by immune system activation following antigen inhalation, is prevalent among the 1 in 14 American adults with interstitial lung disease, and can result in progressive lung fibrosis and death. The specific host immune response and composition of the resident microbial communities in the lungs (?lung microbiome?) likely influence disease course, and may be modifiable by therapeutic intervention. The overarching goal of this project is to understand the relationship between the host immune response, the lung microbiome, lung fibrosis, and disease trajectory in patients with HP, as a key step toward improving our ability to provide effective, personalized treatment to patients with this heterogeneous, life-threatening disease.
