Current Research Projects:
- Proteostasis & FoxP1 – Investigating how FoxP1 regulates protein homeostasis in lung epithelium.
- Ubiquitin-Proteasome System & COPD – Exploring how protein degradation pathways influence lung disease progression.
- RNA Binding Proteins & Mitochondria – Understanding how RNA-binding proteins regulate mitochondrial function in lung epithelia
- WNT Signaling & Lithium Therapy – Testing how WNT pathway activation via lithium could counteract lung disease.
The Chandra Lab conducts Genetic Map-to-Therapeutic studies in airway disease, with a primary focus on identifying and characterizing novel genes that confer susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our research centers on airway epithelial biology, leveraging a multidisciplinary approach that integrates computational and functional genomics, mechanistic studies in primary and immortalized airway epithelial cell lines, transgenic mouse models, and human lung tissue. We aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms by which these genes influence epithelial function and disease progression. This foundational work is highly translational and is designed to enable the development of RNA-based therapeutics. We have generated our first patentable therapeutic and are launching a start-up company to develop these novel therapeutics further. The lab is supported by multiple federal and foundation grants.
The Chandra Lab investigates how genetic variation shapes susceptibility to lung disease, using a Genetic Map to Therapeutics approach. By integrating bioinformatics, molecular biology, and translational research, we identify novel genetic loci linked to COPD and uncover disease mechanisms to drive therapeutic discovery.
Our lab has already developed a patentable therapeutic and is launching a startup to bring these discoveries to patients.