WEBINAR—Developing Reproducible Small Animal Models to Better Reflect Lung Fibrosis Pathophysiology

January 11, 2024
11 a.m. EST

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In this webinar, Elizabeth Redente, PhD, associate professor at National Jewish Health in Denver, will share insights for the study of pulmonary fibrosis using murine models. Her focus will center on expanding the use and relevance of the single-dose bleomycin model of persistent fibrotic disease using genetics, age, sex and repetitive injury. Redente will also discuss the occupational model of silicosis and integrated into model discussion are analytical methods to examine pathophysiology outcomes including pathology, lung physiology using flexiVent, microCT analysis and oxygen saturation. Additionally, Redente will discuss methods of therapeutic intervention and targeted loss of fibroblast populations. 

Key topics include: 

• multiple variables that contribute to successful animal models of fibrosis, including genetics, age, sex, repetitive injury and occupational exposure; 
• an overview of pathophysiology with increased overlap to patient pulmonary fibrosis; 
• an overview of clinically relevant outcomes during persistent fibrosis inducing flexiVent, small animal microCT and pulse oximetry; and  
• using persistent fibrosis models for therapeutic intervention. 

Speaker

Elizabeth Redente, PhD, ATSF
Associate Professor, Division of Cell Biology, Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health

Elizabeth Redente, PhD, ATSF, is an associate professor in the Division of Cell Biology in the Department of Pediatrics at National Jewish Health in Denver. Redente’s research focuses on the development of injury and repair of the lung, specifically how it relates to fibroblast cell phenotypes in pulmonary fibrosis. Redente’s research aims to develop a resolving process in fibrotic lungs by targeting pro-fibrotic fibroblasts to have a reduced pro-fibrotic phenotype and to undergo apoptosis followed by normal regeneration of the alveolar epithelium. Her focus is on understanding the role of Bcl-2 in non-resolving fibrosis animal models and in human fibrotic diseases with the goal of developing models of fibrosis that better recapitulate the histopathologic characteristics of human pulmonary fibrosis.