SUMMARY
The research of Daniel J. Tschumperlin, Ph.D., focuses on mechanisms of tissue fibrosis and repair in the respiratory system and other internal organs.
Fibrosis is an end-stage scarring process common to organ failure. Better treatments that can reverse fibrosis and restore organ function are needed.
Fibrosis disrupts the normal interactions between cells and their extracellular matrix, changing the structure and mechanical properties of organs and compromising their function. Moreover, changes in the extracellular matrix and tissue mechanics can alter cellular function, resulting in feedback loops that drive disease progression. Researching the interplay among mechanics, structure and cellular function within normal and diseased organs will ultimately lead to better treatments for diseases of scarring such as pulmonary fibrosis.
Focus areas
- Dr. Tschumperlin has used atomic force microscopy to characterize the mechanical properties of normal and diseased tissues at the molecular and cellular scales. This gives insight into the spatial and temporal alterations in mechanics that accompany disease.
- New cell and tissue culture model systems are actively being developed and used to mimic specific aspects of the cellular and extracellular environment, such as matrix stiffness, as well as study their effects on cellular function.
- Cellular and molecular studies focus on how cells probe and remodel their mechanical environment and how cells transduce changes in their mechanical environment into biochemical signals that alter cell function.
- The fibroblast, a cell capable of both matrix synthesis and contraction, is essential in lung development and repair. Yet it also contributes to fibrosis in the lungs and other soft tissues. Ongoing studies aim to identify novel regulators of fibroblast activation and function.
Significance to patient care
Fibrotic diseases are a major and growing health concern around the world. There are still few treatment options for conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis.
Understanding how the lungs are built, how their cells work and how they function together helps us better understand these diseases. This knowledge helps Dr. Tschumperlin find new treatments and ways to repair the lung and restore lung function.
Professional highlights
- Member, Board of Reviewing Editors, Science Translational Medicine, 2021-present.
- Vice chair, Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, 2014-present.
- American Thoracic Society Assembly on Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology:
- Chair, 2026-2028.
- Andy Tager Award for Excellence in Mentoring, 2026.
- Chair, Lung Injury, Repair and Remodeling Study Section, National Institutes of Health, 2018-2020.