Mikacenic Lab

Introduction

The Mikacenic lab is focused on understanding how lung immune cells contribute to inflammation, repair, and fibrosis.

Our translational approach uses well curated samples from clinical cohorts to perform deep immune profiling. We obtain alveolar lavage samples, lung tissue samples, and/or peripheral blood from patients with acute illnesses like sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We also study chronic lung conditions like interstitial lung disease and fibrosis that can occur in patients with and without autoimmune disease.

The goal of these studies is to understand how the immune system contributes to the development of lung injury or fibrosis in order to identify novel treatment strategies that will prevent or slow the progression of disease. 
 

Carmen Mikacenic
Associate Member

Carmen Mikacenic, MD

Associate Member; Principal Investigator, Mikacenic Lab; Physician, Pulmonary Medicine, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
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Lab Members

Holly Akilesh

Holly Akilesh, PhD

Staff Scientist, Mikacenic Lab
Anne Chaize

Anne Chaize

Research Technician, Mikacenic Lab
Zoie Franklin

Zoie Franklin

Research Technician, Mikacenic Lab
Sarah Holton

Sarah Holton, MD, PhD

Visiting Scientist, Mikacenic Lab
Eric Morrell

Eric Morrell, MD

Visiting Scientist, Mikacenic Lab

Research Projects

Mikacenic Res Proj Prev - HIPC RV Study

Systems Immunology Profiling of Respiratory Viral Infections in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The lab's study in the Human Immunology Project Consortium (HIPC) is focused on understanding mucosal immune responses in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and how it differs from healthy adults.
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Mikacenic Res Proj Prev - Immune Checkpoints

Immune Checkpoints in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

We are investigating the role of the PD-L1/PD-2 pathway in ARDS pathophysiology and identifying an immune signature of patients at higher risk for poor outcomes.
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Mikacenic Res Proj Prev - Macrophage Heterogeneity

Macrophage Heterogeneity and Lung Inflammation and Fibrosis

We are identifying novel macrophage subsets and investigating how they contribute to acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and interstitial lung disease.
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News

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BRI Investigators Jane Buckner, MD, and Carmen Mikacenic, MD, Interviewed on the Arthritis Life Podcast

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Benaroya Research Institute Awarded $11.4 M NIH U19 Grant to Profile Respiratory Viral Infections in Vulnerable Populations and $3.9M NIH R01 Grant to Develop New Treatments for Type 1 Diabetes

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Studies on respiratory infections, type 1 diabetes, boosted with $17M to Benaroya Research Institute

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