SUMMARY
Sergio E. Chiarella, M.D., studies the mechanisms that regulate airway epithelial biology in asthma and related allergic respiratory diseases. Dr. Chiarella's research examines endogenous pathways that restrain airway inflammation. He also investigates epithelial barrier dysfunction, intracellular calcium signaling and interleukin-33 release.
Dr. Chiarella's research integrates primary human airway epithelial cell cultures, gene-silencing approaches, live-cell imaging, animal models and genomic analyses. By combining these methods with well-characterized human tissue and clinical cohorts, his work links epithelial mechanisms to asthma severity and clinical outcomes.
Dr. Chiarella's research also explores sex-related differences in asthma, epithelial metabolism and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, as well as the real-world use and safety of biologic therapies. This work spans children and adults with asthma, including pregnant patients and people with limited access to biologic therapies. Ultimately, his research seeks to identify mechanisms and treatment strategies that improve asthma control.
Focus areas
- Endogenous inhibition in asthma. Dr. Chiarella investigates endogenous inhibitory pathways that limit inflammatory signaling in asthma. His studies combine human bronchial epithelial cells, mouse models and patient genetic data. This approach helps determine how reduced activity of the endogenous inhibitory pathways contributes to inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, tissue remodeling and severe clinical phenotypes.
- Precision biologic therapy research. Dr. Chiarella's research also examines the real-world use, effectiveness and safety of biologic therapies for asthma and related allergic diseases. He studies treatment continuation, switching and discontinuation, as well as clinical and molecular biomarkers associated with treatment response. This work integrates large community and academic cohorts to advance more personalized approaches to biologic selection and to improve patient outcomes.
- Sex-related asthma mechanisms. Dr. Chiarella examines how sex hormones influence airway epithelial differentiation and asthma pathogenesis. He uses epithelial models and clinical cohorts to identify biological mechanisms underlying sex-related differences in asthma and to clarify how these differences relate to disease characteristics across childhood and adulthood.
- Airway epithelial metabolism and injury. Dr. Chiarella studies metabolic and barrier changes in the asthmatic airway epithelium. These changes include altered glutamine metabolism and epithelial injury in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. He combines molecular profiling with human airway samples to identify pathways that may be targeted to restore epithelial homeostasis and reduce inflammation.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Chiarella studies ways to reduce airway inflammation by strengthening the lung's own healing properties. Through this research, he looks for features that may lead to severe disease and for new ways to treat asthma.
Dr. Chiarella's work may help medical teams choose the right treatments, identify patients at higher risk and use treatments more safely in asthma care. His research supports understudied patient groups by examining differences related to sex, pregnancy and access to treatment.
Professional highlights
- National Institutes of Health:
- Standing member, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases Study Section, 2024-present.
- Principal investigator, Transmembrane Protein 178 as a Novel Endogenous Inhibitory Mechanism in Asthma, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2024-2029.
- Principal investigator, Gender-Specific Effects of Puberty on Airway Epithelial Differentiation in Asthma, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2019-2024.
- Respiratory Research:
- Associate editor, 2023-present.
- Editorial Distinction Award, 2025-2026.
- Editorial board member, Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, American Journal of Physiology, 2021-present.
- Faculty Development Award, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 2022-2025.
- Laureate Award, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 2024.
- Co-chair, Junior Members Steering Committee, World Allergy Organization, 2020-2023.
- Young Faculty Award, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 2018.