UIC Department of Pharmacology: Faculty Research

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Primary Faculty

Richard D. Minshall, PhD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology Center for Lung and Vascular Biology
The focus of our research is to understand the cellular signaling mechanisms that regulate vascular permeability under normal physiological conditions and during inflammation. We study the two pathways that contribute to the regulation of the vascular barrier: 1) the transcellular or vesicular transport pathway in which caveolae mediate macromolecule transcytosis from the circulation to the interstitium, and 2) the paracellular or junctional pathway which is regulated by the disruption and recovery of interendothelial junctions. We are currently investigating the role of the caveolae-associated protein, caveolin-1 as the primary regulator of eNOS, Src kinase, G-proteins, and NADPH oxidase in endothelial cells, which we hypothesize are important regulators of endothelial barrier function and inflammation-induced lung edema formation. Thus, our goal is to develop treatment strategies for acute lung injury that are based on caveolin-1 regulation of endothelial barrier integrity.
E417 MSB 835 S. Wolcott Ave. (312) 996-1655 rminsh@uic.edu Lab home page Publications