Dr. Wendt has a long-standing interest in clinical and translational research in COPD, specifically focusing on biomarkers and pathways of disease. Dr. Wendt has participated on five large NIH COPD trials, three of which are ongoing and are a resource for developing trainees and junior faculty interested in clinical research. In addition, Dr. Wendt was recently the PI of a FAMRI award for a clinical trial related to the microbiome. This study provided a platform for a junior faculty (CDA awardee) to gain experience in clinical trials and to participate in the expansion to a multi-center trial. Dr. Wendt’s current translational work has focuses on biomarkers and causal pathways in COPD leading to lung cancer (VA Lung Precision Oncology Program) and HIV associated COPD (NIH R01). These translational projects combine multiple investigators with expertise in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, computational and systems biology. Dr. Wendt also participates in a VA Cooperative Study (SHADE) to determine the respiratory effects of particulate matter in deployed Veterans and has a VA Collaborative Merit Award to phenotype exposure related pulmonary disease in the SHADE cohort. Through all this work Dr. Wendt has fostered cross-discipline collaborations, creating mentoring and collaborative opportunities for trainees and junior faculty.

Dr. Wendt has and continues to accumulate a substantial and successful mentoring record. Dr. Wendt has mentored 5 graduate students,11 fellows, 3 PhD post-doctoral fellows and 5 faculty. Most notably are Dr. Alexa Pragman, recipient of VA CDA and recent VA Merit Award (microbiome in COPD), Dr. Theresa Laguna, recipient of NIH R01 (microbiome in CF infants) and recently recruited as Division Director of Pulmonary, Northwestern University, Dr. Maneesh Bhargava, recipient of CTSI K award and NIH R01, Dr. Arianne Baldomero, recipient of CTSI KL2 Award, Dr. Dwight Stoll, Professor and Co-Chair of Chemistry at Gustavus University and Dr. Filippo Colleti, Aerospace Engineering, recipient of NIH R22 (structure-function in COPD) and promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Dr. Wendt also has extensive involvement with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) including chairing multiple assembly committees, which is a resource for networking and involvement for trainees and junior faculty.

Current Trainees: Camille Robichaux (T32 Fellow), Alex Zanotto (fellow)

Sample Publications:

• • • Baldomero, AK, KM Kunisaki, J Connett, A Pilon, CH Wendt, Club Cell Secretory Protein (CCSP) is Reduced in Hospitalized Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exacerbations. Int J COPD, 2020, 15:2461-2464, PMCID: PMC7553259, PMID 33116461

    • Amundson WH, EJ Swanson, A Peterson, BJ Bell, C Hatt, CH Wendt. Quantification of Perinodular Emphysema in High-Risk Patients Offers No Benefit in Lung Nodule Risk-Stratification of Malignancy Potential. Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 2020. 35(2):108-114

    • Pragman. AA, KA Knutson, TJ Gould, RE Isaacson, CS Reilly, and CH Wendt. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Upper Airway Microbiota Alpha Diversity Is Associated With Exacerbation Phenotype: a Case-Control Observational Study. Respir Research 2019 Jun 7;20(1):114. PMID:31174538, PMCID:PMC6555967

    • Sandri, BJ, L Masvidal, C Murie, M Bartish, S Avdulov, L Higgins, T Markowski, M Peterson, J Bergh, P Yang, C Rolny, AH Limper, TJ Griffin, PB Bitterman, CH Wendt*, O Larsson*. Distinct cancer-promoting stromal gene expression depending on lung function. *equal contribution. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Aug 1;200(3):348-358.PMID: 30742544

    • Baldomero, AK, M Siddiqui, CY Lo, A Petersen, AA Pragman, J Connett, KM Kunisaki, CH Wendt, The Relationship Between Oral Health and COPD Exacerbations. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2019 Apr 23;14:881-892.PMCID: PMC6497835, PMID: 31114185

    • Pragman, AA, KA Knutson, TJ Gould, SW Hodgson, RE Isaacson, CS Reilly, CH Wendt. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease upper airway microbiome is associated with select clinical characteristics. PLOS ONE. July 2019. 14(7):1-22. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0219962. PMID:31335912, PMCID:PMC6650084