Welcome to the Nicolls Lab
Our lab focuses primarily on the contribution of the immune response to lung disease. We are specifically examining the contribution of inflammation to the development of pulmonary hypertension. We also study how airway remodeling occurs in transplantation with specific respect to the microvascular circulation and to the initiation of fibroproliferation. We are part of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care in the Department of Medicine and part of PAVIR at the Palo Alto VA Health Care System.
Research Areas
Lymphedema
Our group investigates the so-called 'third circulation', the lymphatics.
Emphysema/COPD
Our group recently found that loss of endothelial cell (EC) hypoxia inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α), induced by cigarette smoke, plays a key role in the development of emphysema.
Learn More About Emphysema/COPD >>
Lung Transplantation
Loss of the functional airway microvasculature predisposes lung transplants to chronic rejection.
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary Hypertension is a deadly disease, currently without a cure.
"Our lab focus is on how vascular inflammation contributes to lung and lymphatic disease and to develop targeted therapeutics that can safely treat these conditions."
- Mark Nicolls, MD.