Pulmonary and Critical Care
About UsThe Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care strives to advance our knowledge of lung health and disease through a combination of education and research.
We have in recent years expanded our research programs, established advanced pulmonary disease subspecialty clinics and successfully opened a lung transplantation program at Northwestern.”
– Scott Budinger, MD
What We Do
Faculty: Meet the Team
View individual profiles of our faculty members and learn about their research and clinical specialties.
Professor of Preventive Medicine (Epidemiology) and Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)
Epidemiologic studies of cardiovascular disease, with a focus on health behaviors including diet, physical activity and sleep and in populations defined by race/ethnicity, age and gender.
Associate Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)
My clinical interest in the outpatient setting is the diagnosis and treatment of sarcoidosis. I am also involved with our lung transplantation program. On the inpatient side, I serve as the medical director for our inpatient Pulmonary unit and work to help improve the inpatient care of our patients with pneumonia, asthma, and COPD as well as transitions from critical care settings. I am interested in quality research regarding inpatient pulmonary care and early recognition of sepsis.
Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care) and Cell and Developmental Biology
My research interests focus on the intermediate filaments (IFs), which are cytoskeletal structures that are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of cells and tissues. In general, my lab focuses on the non-mechanical roles for the IF cytoskeleton such as how IFs regulate cell migration and cell survival, and the mechanisms by which IFs are a scaffold for stress-activated kinases and adaptor proteins. We investigated whether micromechanical forces, such as shear stress and stretch, had an effect on the keratin intermediate filament (IF) network in alveolar epithelial cells. We demons...
Professor of Pediatrics (Critical Care), Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care) and Pharmacology
Youyang Zhao, Ph.D., is William G. Swartchild, Jr. Distinguished Research Professor and Director of the Program for Lung and Vascular Biology at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. He is Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine), and Pharmacology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and member of the Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute. Dr. Zhao joined Lurie Children’s in July 2017 from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he started with Assistant Professor in ...
Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care) and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Historically, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been thought to be cellular damaging agents, lacking a physiological function. Accumulation of ROS and oxidative damage have been linked to multiple pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cancer, and premature aging. This guilt by association relationship left a picture of ROS as a necessary evil of oxidative metabolism, a product of an imperfect system. Yet few biological systems possess such flagrant imperfections, thanks to the persistent optimization of evolution, and it appears that oxidative metabolism is no different...
Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care) and Pediatrics
My primary research interest is in lung repair after acute injury with a focus on TGF-beta mediated signaling. We have identified mitochondrial generated reactive oxygen species as important in TGF-bête mediated gene expression and are working to identify novel therapeutic targets in this pathway. We are also interested in modulating the ubiquitin-proteosomal pathway as a therapeutic target for tissue fibrosis. I have a clinical translational interest in Cystic Fibrosis. I am the site co-PI for the CF Foundation sponsored clinical trial network, The Therapeutic Development Network. I am also i...
Associate Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)
Cell-cell adhesion in health and disease
Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)
My research interests revolve around understanding the risk factors, including host genetic risk, and improving outcomes of critically ill patients with serious infections. This includes severe community-acquired pneumonia, sepsis of all causes, and nosocomial infections, particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)
My primary goal is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to people with lung diseases or in the ICU. I am a board-certified pulmonologist and intensivist and have sub-specialty interests in cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and lung transplant. During my fellowship, I acquired experience in laboratory science under Jing Liu, PhD, and firmly believe advancement of excellent medicine is only possible through scientific research. To that end, I spend a portion of my time committed to research of lung disease biology.
Diversity and Inclusion
The department works toward an environment of inclusion and support through the Diversity and Cultural Affairs Council and through several dedicated events and initiatives.
Housestaff Research Portal
Physician-Scientist Training & Resources
We offer a wide range of resources, mentorship opportunities and formal training programs to help our residents and fellows excel as physician-scientists. Explore all of the resources and hear from housestaff who are making research a major part of their career development plans.
Giving
Support What We Do
We invite your philanthropic partnership in helping us achieve our research and teaching missions each day.
You can contact Dave McCreery for more information on supporting the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at 312-503-6099 or david.mccreery@northwestern.edu