Research Interests 

Cigarette smoking has been associated with development of flu induced acute lung injury (ALI). However, the innate immune pathways that leaves cigarette smokers at risk of developing flu-triggered ALI remains poorly understood.  We have developed two-hit model in mice that involves cigarette smoke exposure followed by intranasal instillation of influenza flu virus. We are using intravital microscopy of lung in mice, biochemical approaches and in vitro studies with patient blood samples to identify the role of neutrophil-platelet aggregates and how innate immune signaling in these cells contribute to the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke induced severity of flu infection.