Our research program utilizes both human and animal experimental models to study the mechanisms underlying the adverse pulmonary effects of environmental and occupational air pollutants. We perform these studies in collaboration with several investigators at NYU School of Medicine and other academic centers. The primary focus of ongoing studies is to examine the cellular, molecular, and humoral interactions which lead to pollutant-induced pulmonary injury. The most important aim of my work examines the contribution of genetic susceptibility to the adverse effects of inhaled pollutants. We examine the role of genetic host factors in murine models of disease using both classic mouse genetic and computational genomics approaches. A related research goal includes a mechanistic examination of the development of tolerance, a feature which occurs after repeated exposure to a variety of inhaled agents. Thus, our overall goal is to examine not only the pathways involved in the progression of pulmonary disease but also the role of endogenous mediators in the development of tolerance associated with chronic exposure to environmental and occupational agents.