James E. Gern, MD
Professor
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Contact the Group
(608) 263-6201
UW Hospital
600 Highland Ave - K4/9
Madison, WI 53792-9988
The Gern Laboratory Group is conducting several NIH-funded studies to define the role of viral infections in the initiation and disease activity of asthma, and to identify interactions between host and viral factors that determine the severity of respiratory illnesses. Dr. Gern is the Principal Investigator for the University of Wisconsin Asthma and Allergic Diseases Clinical Research Center (AADCRC). This is a collaborative program involving investigators in the Allergy/Immunology Division and basic scientists (Ann Palmenberg, Institute of Molecular Virology; Paul Bertics, Biomolecular Chemistry; Lou Rosenthal, Pediatrics; Wai Ming Lee, Pediatrics) at the University of Wisconsin. The goals of the project are to determine how infections with rhinoviruses cause exacerbations of asthma in children. The AADCRC clinical project is known as RhinoGen, and is a large observational study of 400 children (half with asthma) to identify host and genetic factors that promote more severe rhinovirus illnesses and exacerbations of asthma.
The Gern Laboratory Group is working on two birth cohort studies of asthma. As part of the Childhood Origins of Asthma (COAST) study, we are identifying new strains of rhinoviruses, and determining whether there are specific strains associated with more severe illnesses and acute asthma. In addition, Dr. Gern leads the Urban Environment and Childhood Asthma (URECA) study for the Inner City Asthma Consortium. The goal of this birth cohort study is to identify lifestyle and environmental factors (including viral infections) unique to the urban environment that influence early immune development to increase the risks for allergic diseases and asthma.
Finally, the laboratory is conducting translational research projects to identify virus-induced inflammatory mechanisms involving airway epithelial cells and T regulatory cells, and experimental inoculation studies of volunteers with asthma using a safety-tested strain of rhinovirus.