Solomon Ofori-Acquah, PhD

Conceptual Schematic

THE THREE MOST SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS THAT DEFINE YOUR RESEARCH PROGRAM:
• What are the basic mechanisms for clearing excess extracellular heme from the blood circulation, and what impact does sickle cell disease, and aging have on the major heme clearance mechanisms.

• What clinically relevant complications are caused directly by impaired clearance or scavenging of extracellular heme, and other erythroid danger associated molecular pattern molecules?

• What are the cytoprotective mechanisms that defend major organ systems from tissue damage caused by extracellular heme (and other erythroid danger molecules), and how can these pathways be targeted to provide clinically meaningful therapeutic benefit for affected patients.

FIVE KEYWORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR AREAS OF INTEREST:
Hemolysis and extracellular heme • Endothelial barrier function • Acute lung injury • Genomics and epigenetics • Global health

TECHNIQUES, MODELS, METHODS, ANALYTIC APPROACHES, ETC:
Transgenic mouse models of sickle cell disease • Preclinical models of acute lung injury • ECIS (electrical cell impedance system)