SUMMARY
The research of Hemang Yadav, M.B.B.S., focuses on improving outcomes for patients with critical illness through causal inference research using observational, translational and mechanistic approaches. Dr. Yadav's primary research program is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and centers on acute respiratory failure syndromes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which also is called bone marrow transplant. His research also examines propofol-associated complications in patients on mechanical ventilators, work that emerged from clinical observations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through rigorous epidemiological methods and translational approaches, Dr. Yadav aims to establish causal relationships that inform evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for high-risk patient populations.
Focus areas
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Respiratory failure in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Dr. Yadav systematically explores the causal pathways leading to respiratory failure in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. With this research, he is establishing a comprehensive understanding of how factors arising before, at the time of and after transplant contribute to critical illness.
His epidemiological work characterizes the spectrum of lung injury syndromes in this population, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and periengraftment respiratory distress syndrome. Through prospective cohort studies and mechanistic investigations, Dr. Yadav identifies both shared and unique risk factors that predispose patients with bone marrow transplants to respiratory complications.
This foundational work has led to the development of the Lung Injury Prediction Score in Bone Marrow Transplantation (LIPS-BMT), a validated clinical tool that stratifies patients by risk and enables targeted interventions for those most vulnerable to respiratory failure.
- Propofol-associated complications in critical care. Dr. Yadav established and leads a research program investigating the causal relationship between propofol administration and hypertriglyceridemia — a frequently occurring but poorly understood complication in clinical practice. His work highlights the clinical significance of this adverse effect and its impact on sedation management decisions in patients who are critically ill. Through multicenter epidemiological studies, Dr. Yadav defines the incidence, risk factors and clinical consequences of propofol-associated hypertriglyceridemia. His research program also incorporates machine learning approaches, including the development of the Optimized Prediction of hyperTriglyceridemia In Critical care Sedation (OPTICS) model. OPTICS enables clinicians to prospectively identify patients who are at the highest risk of this complication and make informed sedation choices.
- Precision medicine and biomarker research in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Dr. Yadav studies the role of biologic markers in development of ARDS. He is using postoperative ARDS as an experimental model where the instigating event is known ahead of time. He led the first prospective study to track biomarker changes from healthy baseline to full-blown ARDS. The study revealed that markers of inflammation — specifically, interleukin-8 — and epithelial injury — namely, surfactant protein-D — rose significantly within just two hours after surgery.
- Biomarker-guided therapy. To test biomarker-guided therapy, Dr. Yadav conducted the SMART clinical trial, which used daily C-reactive protein measurements to dose adjuvant corticosteroids in severe pneumonia. This pilot study demonstrated that biomarker-titrated steroid administration resulted in lower overall steroid use with faster recovery times in COVID-19 pneumonia.
- Pulmonary physiology and risk stratification. Dr. Yadav explores the relationship between pulmonary function, risk of developing specific pulmonary diseases and overall prognosis. His work demonstrates that abnormal pretransplant lung function predisposes patients to specific pulmonary syndromes such as post-transplant ARDS. By assessing risk on a continuous scale rather than a binary one, his approach enables more-nuanced and precise risk stratification.
- Pulmonary function database. Dr. Yadav has helped develop an extensive multisite pulmonary function database. Building on this work, he examined the real-world implications of adopting race-neutral approaches following the 2023 American Thoracic Society statement on race and ethnicity in pulmonary function test interpretation.
- Impact of built environments and social determinants of health on pulmonary function. Supported by the NIH's Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative, Dr. Yadav is investigating how built environments and social determinants of health shape pulmonary function over time. His research explores the complex interactions among socioeconomic conditions, environmental exposures and respiratory health outcomes.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Yadav's research creates tools that help healthcare professionals predict who is at higher risk of serious problems before they happen. One of these tools, called the LIPS-BMT score, lets healthcare professionals figure out which patients with bone marrow transplants are most likely to have trouble breathing after transplant.
His studies have shown that many patients who receive stem cell transplants still need to go to the intensive care unit afterward, and more than half of them need help with breathing machines. Dr. Yadav also found that patients with cancer make up more than 10% of all hospital cases of severe breathing failure and are twice as likely to die from it compared with patients without cancer. These discoveries help patients and families understand what to expect and make informed decisions.
Another tool that Dr. Yadav helped create, called the OPTICS model, allows healthcare professionals to safely choose sedation medicines, reducing the risk of side effects from switching drugs. Through the SMART trial, he showed that using lab tests to guide steroid treatment in patients with pneumonia can lower the amount of steroids needed while helping people recover faster. This is an example of how personalized medicine can improve care in a critical care practice setting.
Professional highlights
- American Thoracic Society:
- Fellow, Minnesota, 2025-present.
- Member, Programming Committee, 2025-present.
- National Institutes of Health:
- Member, Epidemiology and Population Sciences Study Section, 2023-present.
- Funding recipient, RECOVER Initiative, 2025-present.
- K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award, 2021-present.
- Mayo Clinic:
- Transplant Scholarly Time Award, Transplant Research Committee, 2019-2021, 2021-2023.
- Walter and Leonore Annenberg Career Development Award in Pulmonary Medicine, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, 2018-2021.
- COVID-19 Research Award, Department of Medicine and Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Minnesota, 2020.
- Outstanding Service Award, Pharmacy Residency, Minnesota, 2018.