University of Chicago · Biomedical EngineeringLung Disease Therapeutics Unit
Matthew Tirrell · Chicago, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Matthew Tirrell's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on using targeted nanomedicine to address serious lung diseases like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pulmonary fibrosis. Their innovative approach seeks to modify specific cell types during different phases of lung disease, particularly in response to viral infections such as COVID-19. The lab aims to develop new therapies that can effectively reduce lung injury and fibrosis, offering hope for improved treatment options in the future.
targeted nanomedicinelung diseasesacute respiratory distress syndromepulmonary fibrosismolecular mechanismsCOVID-19viral pneumoniaendothelial dysfunctionfibroblasts
Research Aims
5AIM 01Test the effectiveness of nanoparticles targeting endothelial cells to reduce lung injury in ARDS.
AIM 02Investigate the use of targeted nanoparticles to inhibit fibroblast activity in chronic lung fibrosis.
AIM 03Develop and optimize methods for encapsulating mRNA in nanoparticles for targeted delivery.
AIM 04Explore the therapeutic potential of gene-based therapy for viral-induced lung diseases.
AIM 05Assess the long-term impacts of treatment on lung function and fibrosis development.
Skills the Lab Values
nanoparticle formulationin vivo animal modelshuman lung slice perfusionCRISPRRNA encapsulationflow cytometrymolecular profilinggene delivery techniquesimmunohistochemistry
Output against the department
Publications598top 12% of dept.69th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations28ktop 10% of dept.62nd of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.