University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · PharmacologyNeonatal Lung Injury Research Lab
Donald B Defranco · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Donald Defranco's lab focuses on finding safer treatment options for neonatal lung injury, specifically targeting bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. The lab investigates how a drug called ciclesonide can help prevent lung damage without causing harmful effects on the brain, unlike traditional glucocorticoids. Their research aims to ensure that treatments for neonatal conditions do not compromise brain development during critical early life stages.
glucocorticoidsneonatal lung injurybronchopulmonary dysplasiaciclesonideinflamationneonatal brainprematurityinhaled therapylung maturation
Research Aims
3AIM 01Determine how ciclesonide prevents lung injury in neonatal mice.
AIM 02Identify the cellular responses to ciclesonide using transcriptomic techniques.
AIM 03Compare the effects of ciclesonide and dexamethasone on brain development in neonates.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureanimal modelstranscriptomic analysissingle-cell RNA sequencingWestern blotimmunostainingdata analysisdrug administration techniquesbehavioral assessments in rodents
Output against the department
Publications250top 32% of dept.148th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations11ktop 35% of dept.161st of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
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