Sara Prescott, Ph.D.

Research

My lab will explore the role that neurons play in remodeling lung tissue after environmental distress. Airways are highly sensitive and reactive tissues: They can produce mucus in response to infection or become scarred following extended exposure to airborne irritants. But how do the diverse cell types that make up lung tissue orchestrate the appropriate response? When it comes to the airways, neurons act as cellular sentries, eliciting a cough to eject inhaled particles or liquids, for example. Now, using a combination of advanced methods in cell and molecular genetics, tissue physiology, and developmental and neural biology, I will assess whether the neurons that innervate the lung can induce airway remodeling, determine whether they communicate directly with the stem cells that give rise to lung tissue, and identify the molecules that underlie this interaction. My work could point toward novel therapeutics for improving respiratory health and reversing airway scarring in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.