The Brennen laboratory takes a rigorous, multi-disciplinary, team-based approach towards developing innovative therapeutic and prognostic strategies for prostate cancer with an emphasis on exploiting vulnerabilities within the tumor microenvironment towards this goal. To accomplish this goal, we are strategically pursuing novel therapeutic platforms, including stromal-targeted prodrugs, protoxins, and radiolabeled antibodies, in addition to cell-based therapy and drug delivery; all of which are designed to reduce toxicity to peripheral non-target tissue (i.e. side effects) while maximizing anti-tumor efficacy (i.e. therapeutic benefit). Currently, many of these strategies are focused on overcoming stromal barriers to anti-tumor immune responses such that men suffering from prostate cancer can share in the immense, revolutionary power of immunotherapy that is transforming care for many with advanced disease in other tumor types previously thought to be unmanageable using conventional approaches. Unfortunately, prostate cancer has largely proven refractory to these powerful approaches thus far and requires novel mono- or combinatorial treatment strategies to unleash the full potential of the immune system and generate personalized anti-tumor responses with the capability of producing long-term durable responses or even cures in these men.

Research in the David Sullivan Lab focuses on malaria, including its diagnosis, treatment, molecular biology as it relates to iron, and pathology as it relates to severe anemia. We test and develop new malaria diagnostics — from real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to novel urine and saliva detection platforms. This includes the adaptation of immuno-PCR (antibody coupled to DNA for PCR detection) to malaria and a lead blood stage drug that contains a quinine derivative used to treat malaria in the 1930s.

Zheng’s research focuses on two R01-funded projects; first, the group has developed a pancreatic cancer immunotherapy research program on a neoadjuvant therapy platform as well as a number of preclinical models of pancreatic cancer for developing innovative immunotherapy strategies. The group has applied the knowledge gained from pancreatic cancer immune-based therapies to the development of a colorectal cancer GVAX vaccine. Second, the group is aimed at understanding the mechanistic roles of the tumor microenvironment in cancer development and metastasis and identifying new targets for pancreatic cancer therapies by dissecting the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer.

The Franck Housseau Lab focuses on the role of the microbiome in colorectal tumorigenesis and on developing a better understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment. The lab is currently working to define the biomarkers of a pre-existing antitumor immune response in metastatic colorectal cancer to define a population of patients eligible for checkpoint blockade therapies.

Research in the Meredith McCormack Lab deals primarily with pulmonary diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the role of environmental exposures in lung diseases. We have researched the factors that contribute to inner-city asthma, with a focus on how particulate matter air pollution impacts pulmonary function. We are also part of the LIBERATE clinical study, which is focused on patients who experience difficulty breathing and have been diagnosed with severe emphysema. We also have a longstanding interest in the effects of race/ethnicity, poverty and urbanization on nutrition and food allergies.

Research in the Robert Lawrence Lab examines how industrial agriculture, food security and human rights affect the environment.

xResearch in the Shyam Biswal Lab focuses on therapeutic resistance of cancer due to a gain-of-function mutation in transcription factor Nrf2. Using patient-derived xenografts in humanized immunocompetent mice and GEM models, we aim to understand the mechanisms of oncogenic cooperation and metabolic adaptation in cancer cells. We’re also investigating the systemic and pulmonary effects of air pollution as well as the health effects of recent tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes and water pipes.

The Abadir Lab focuses on uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying frailty, resilience, and age-related diseases to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical applications. Grounded in translational research, the lab investigates the intricate interplay between mitochondrial biology, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), and chronic inflammation, with an emphasis on their roles in physical and cognitive decline.

Key Areas of Research

1. Mitochondrial and Angiotensin Biology
   • Discovery and exploration of the mitochondrial angiotensin system (MAS) as a critical regulator of cellular energy, inflammation, and resilience.
   • Investigating age-related mitochondrial dysfunction and its contribution to frailty, chronic inflammation, and neurodegeneration.
2. Biomarker Development
   • Identification of novel biomarkers for aging-related frailty and resilience, including cell-free DNA fragments and kynurenine metabolites.
   • Development of diagnostic tools for early detection of physical and cognitive decline.
3. Innovative Therapeutics and Bioengineering
   • Designing nano-delivery systems for targeted drug delivery to mitochondria, enhancing wound healing and reversing cellular senescence.
   • Integration of artificial intelligence and engineering to create advanced diagnostic tools for assessing frailty and aging-related conditions.
4. AI and Technology in Aging
   • Leveraging artificial intelligence and bioengineering to address challenges in geriatric medicine through collaborations with the Johns Hopkins AI & Technology Collaboratory for Aging Research (AITC) and the Gerotech Incubator Program.

Our Approach

The Abadir Lab employs a multidisciplinary methodology, combining molecular biology, bioinformatics, and engineering to tackle the pressing health challenges of aging populations. By fostering collaboration between clinicians, scientists, and engineers, the lab ensures that discoveries translate into tangible benefits for older adults.

Translational Impact

With a focus on frailty, inflammation, and cognitive decline, the Abadir Lab contributes to the development of personalized interventions and precision medicine approaches. Our work has laid the foundation for:

• Repurposing drugs like losartan and valsartan for treating aging-related chronic wounds.
• Unveiling the role of mitochondrial dysregulation in Alzheimer’s disease and frailty.
• Innovating tools for clinical assessments of resilience and functional decline.

Collaborations and Mentorship

The Abadir Lab is committed to training the next generation of scientists, fostering an interdisciplinary environment where students and postdocs explore cutting-edge aging science. Collaborations with the Johns Hopkins GeroTech Incubator Program and the Translational Aging Research Training Program (T32) further enrich this ecosystem of innovation.

Join Us

Whether you're a researcher, student, or collaborator, the Abadir Lab welcomes individuals passionate about transforming aging research into clinical practice.

Research in the Adam D. Sylvester Lab primarily focuses on the way in which humans and primates move through the environment, with the aim of reconstructing the locomotor repertoire of extinct hominins and other primates. We use a quantitative approach that involves the statistical analysis of three-dimensional biological shapes, specifically musculoskeletal structures, and then link the anatomy to function and function to locomotor behavior.

The overall goal of the Auditory Brainstem Library is to understand how abnormal auditory input from the ear affects the brainstem, and how the brain in turn affects activity in the ear through efferent feedback loops. Our emphasis is on understanding the effects of different forms of acquired hearing loss (genetic, conductive, noise-induced, age-related, traumatic brain injury-related) and environmental noise. We are particularly interested in plastic changes in the brain that compensate for some aspects of altered auditory input, and how those changes relate to central auditory processing deficits, tinnitus, and hyperacusis. Understanding these changes will help refine therapeutic strategies and identify new targets for treatment. We collaborate with other labs in the Depts. of Otolaryngology, Neuroscience, Neuropathology, the Wilmer Eye Institute, and the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins, in addition to labs outside the university to increase the impact and clinical relevance of our research.