News and Events

📢 May 2026 - Our PABPC4 work presented at ATS 2026 is featured in Pharmaceutical Technology, which identified PABPC4 as a compelling entry point into precision medicine for COPD.

In this work, we connect common non-coding variants at the PABPC4 locus to mitochondrial dysfunction in lung epithelial cells and emphysema in vivo. Unlike many COPD susceptibility loci, these variants are relatively common (10-35% minor allele frequency), pointing toward a sizeable patient population that could one day benefit from targeted intervention.

Proud of this multi-institutional effort with our collaborators at Harvard, Vanderbilt, UNC, and TGen.

Read the coverage here: https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/analyst-comment/ats-2026-pabpc4-gene-identified-as-a-key-driver-of-emphysema-in-copd/

One of the best parts of being a mentor is moments like this one.

My doctoral student, Misaki Kobayashi, won an Outstanding Poster Presentation award at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine Annual Research Day yesterday. Misaki has put a lot of work into this project, and it's wonderful to see it recognized.

My only regret is that I couldn't be there in person: I was rounding in the MICU. Congratulations, Misaki!

Shout out to Allison Koller, MS for her poster presentation at Pitt School of Medicine Research Day!

Thrilled to share that our abstract has been selected for a 2026 Abstract Scholarship by the Assembly on Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology at the American Thoracic Society!

In this work, "PABPC4: A Genetic Driver of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Emphysema in COPD Targeted by a First-in-Class Therapeutic Agent," we identified PABPC4 as a novel COPD susceptibility gene and traced the path from a common genetic variant to a splicing defect, loss of PABPC4 expression, mitochondrial dysfunction, and emphysema. Most excitingly, we demonstrate that a first-in-class therapeutic can correct this defect and restore mitochondrial function in human lung epithelial cells.

This work is truly a team effort. Grateful to our collaborators.

New paper from our lab:

We identify FBXO24 as the E3 ligase that regulates FoxP1 protein levels—and uncover a rare reciprocal feedback loop.

🫁 Implications for #COPD, #HeartFailure, and #Atherosclerosis.

Read: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.23.653845v1

#bioRxiv #FoxP1 #Ubiquitin #LungBiology #PulmonaryResearch

🎤 May 2025 – Dr Chandra speaks about the concept and promise of ‘Genetic Map to Therapeutics in COPD’ at the Lung Division’s Basic & Translational Research Conference in Pittsburgh.

📢 April 2025: Happy to help kick off the ALA Lung Force walk in Pittsburgh and interact with patients and families. Great effort led by local ALA chapter and Frank Sciurba.

Recent News & Timeline

📢 April 2025: R01-HL179364: Council review completed, NOA pending!

🎤 March 2025 – Dr Chandra gives a video interview to the American Lung Association (video link to be provided in the coming weeks once editing is complete).

📢 February 2025 – Congratulate Abigail Maloy for being accepted into the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program as a Doctoral Student.

📑 January 2025 – New Publication in Annals of Human Genetics
Identifying a Genetic Link Between Lung Function and Psoriasis. Tanimura K, Aldrich MC, Jaworski J, Xing J, Okawa S, Chandra D, Nouraie SM, Nyunoya T.

📑 November 2024 – The R01 grant application is favorably scored by the NIH

Developing Lithium as a Disease Modifying Agent for Emphysema Using a Precision Medicine Approach. PI: Divay Chandra

🎤 November 2024 - Dr Chandra gives an oral presentation at the COPD iNET meeting in Boston, MA.

🎤 November 2024 - Dr Chandra gives an oral presentation at the COPDGene Investigator Meeting in Denver, CO.

🎤 September 2024 – Dr Chandra gives Pulmonary Grand Rounds at the University of Birmingham, Alabama.

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