The Babak Mehrara Lab
Research
Our research group focuses on the lymphatic system in three different pathological settings: lymphedema, obesity, and cancer. Chronic lymphedema is a morbid disease condition without any cure. Our first goal is to uncover the pathology behind development and progression of cancer-related secondary lymphedema using mouse models and human biopsy samples. Briefly, we are interested in interaction of inflammatory cells (CD4+ T cells) with lymphatic vessels during lymphedema. Our ultimate aim is to come out with a therapeutic intervention to cure and prevent lymphedema by modulating CD4+ T cell inflammation and its negative effect on lymphatic vessels. Our second area of research is obesity, a state of systemic low-grade inflammation that also causes severe lymphatic damage and dysfunction. Our research is aimed at modulating lymphatic structure and function in obesity to reduce the systemic inflammation and obesity-related metabolic syndrome. Last but not the least, we are also interested in understanding the role of tumor lymphatic vessels and lymphatic function in modulating immune tolerance or antitumor immunity.
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Babak J. Mehrara, MD
- Physician-scientist Babak Mehrara studies the regulation of lymphatic regeneration after surgery and development of lymphedema.
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