Michael J. Welsh, M.D.
        Professor of Medicine and
        Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
        Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Office: Lab: Phone: FAX: Email: Website:

500G EMRB 500 EMRB (319) 335-7619 (319) 335-7623 michael-welsh@uiowa.edu Welsh Lab

Research Interests

Dr. Welsh's clinical interests include the diagnosis and therapy of lung disease, especially airway diseases. His research focuses in three main areas. First, is a focus on cystic fibrosis with a major emphasis on how the gene product functions, how mutations cause disruptions of function, how the loss of the gene product causes chronic airway infections in cystic fibrosis, and the use of this knowledge to develop new treatments. Second, his laboratory is working to develop gene therapy for cystic fibrosis and other genetic diseases. Third, he is studying a new family of cation channels (DEG/ENaC channels) involved in the sensing of mechanical stimuli, temperature, salt taste, and pain (including that of ischemia and acidosis).

Selected Publications

1. Singh PS, Parsek MR, Greenberg EP, and Welsh MJ. A Component of Innate Immunity Prevents Bacterial Biofilm Development. Nature 417:552-555, 2002.

2. Walters RW, Freimuth P, Moninger, TO, Ganske I, Zabner J, and Welsh MJ. Adenovirus Fiber Disrupts CAR-Mediated Intercellular Adhesion Allowing Virus Escape. Cell 110:789-799, 2002.

3. Vermeer PD, Einwalter LA, Moninger TO, Rokhlina T, Kern JA, Zabner J and Welsh MJ: Segregation of Receptor and Ligand Regulates Activation of Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor. Nature, 422:322-326, 2003.