Daniel Laucirica

My research focuses on early life airway infections in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). The goal of my project is to assess innate immune responses of the CF airway epithelium to infection by a variety of CF associated pathogens, and connect these responses to functional changes in airway neutrophil activity observed in vivo. One of my key interests is modeling pathogenic interactions in CF airways that may enhance microbial dissemination, predisposition to further infection, and exacerbate epithelial immune responses. In addition to contributing new knowledge on early life airway infections in CF, results may also inform new strategies for the management or prevention of airway inflammation in CF lung disease.