Alix Ashare, MD, PhD
Title(s)
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Department(s)
Medicine
Microbiology and Immunology
Education
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, MD 1999
University of Iowa College of Medicine, PhD 2008
Programs
Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Programs
Contact Information
1 Medical Center Dr
Lebanon NH 03756
Office: 508E Borwell
Phone: 603-650-5533
Fax: 603-650-0580
Email: Alix.Ashare@dartmouth.edu
Professional Interests
My research focuses on the role of lung macrophages in the development of inflammatory lung diseases. Currently my laboratory is investigating the potential mechanisms of increased lung inflammation in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma, with an emphasis on the investigation of impaired alveolar macrophage function in the patient populations.
A major focus of my laboratory is the investigation of how the metabolic state of lung macrophages impacts their phenotype and function and how these changes in the immune cell may contribute to chronic inflammation in CF and asthma. We are also interested in how new medication aimed at treating the underlying defect in CF impact macrophage populations. We are currently funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to investigate the metabolic state and inflammatory profile of macrophages isolated from CF patients treated with highly effective modulator therapy. Another area of focus involves studying the interaction between bacterial pathogens and host innate immune cells in the CF lung.
Rotations and Thesis Projects
Project 1: One potential project involves looking at the effects of outer membrane vesicles released by bacteria on the inflammatory response of human macrophages. This project will compare different strains of bacteria as well as treatment with various antibiotics to investigate the impact on the macrophage inflammatory response.
Project 2: This project involves looking at the effect of chronic e-cigarette exposure on lipid homeostasis in lung macrophages.
Grant Information
Macrophage Pathogen Interactions in Regional CF Lung Inflammation (NIH/NHLBI)
The Impact of CFTR Modulator Treatment on CF Lung Macrophage Inflammation (CF Foundation)
The Role of Lung Macrophage Metabolic State in CF Lung Inflammation (CF Foundation)
Courses Taught
CF: From Bedside and Bench, and Back Again
Scientific Basis of Medicine: Respiratory Section
Biography
Dr. Ashare received her B.S. from Vanderbilt University in 1994, her M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1999, and her Ph.D. in Translational Biomedicine from the University of Iowa in 2008. Following Medical School, she completed an Internal Medicine Residency and Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2002 and 2005, respectively. In 2005, she joined the faculty at the University of Iowa. She moved her clinical and research program to Dartmouth in 2009.
Selected Publications |
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Model Systems to Study the Chronic, Polymicrobial Infections in Cystic Fibrosis: Current Approaches and Exploring Future Directions. Aspergillus fumigatus In-Host HOG Pathway Mutation for Cystic Fibrosis Lung Microenvironment Persistence. Healthy versus inflamed lung environments differentially affect mesenchymal stromal cells. Balancing Positive and Negative Selection: In Vivo Evolution of Candida lusitaniae MRR1. Safety of research bronchoscopy with BAL in stable adult patients with cystic fibrosis. CF monocyte-derived macrophages have an attenuated response to extracellular vesicles secreted by airway epithelial cells. Exposure to extracellular vesicles from Pseudomonas aeruginosa result in loss of DNA methylation at enhancer and DNase hypersensitive site regions in lung macrophages. Differential effects of the cystic fibrosis lung inflammatory environment on mesenchymal stromal cells. Extracellular Vesicles from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Suppress MHC-Related Molecules in Human Lung Macrophages. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and cystic fibrosis. |
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