Dr. Laubach is a basic and translational PhD scientist with a background in genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, and pulmonary physiology. His research focuses on defining mechanisms of and preventative therapies for acute lung injury after transplantation (i.e. ischemia-reperfusion injury or primary graft dysfunction). His laboratory is exploring various cell signaling pathways including: inflammation, purinergic signaling, innate immune cells, cytokine/chemokine signaling, DAMP molecules (e.g. extracellular ATP, HMGB1, mitochondrial DNA), endothelial dysfunction, alveolar epithelial injury, and resolution of injury involving Treg cells and IL-10.

Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is used clinically to assess marginal donor lungs prior to transplant, and Dr. Laubach is studying ways to use EVLP as a therapeutic platform to recondition marginal donor lungs for successful transplantation, which will increase the donor lung pool size. We are evaluating various novel therapies (e.g. A2AR agonist A2BR antagonist, Panx1 inhibitor, S1PR1 agonists, SphK2 inhibitors) during ischemia-reperfusion and EVLP as strategies to rescue marginal donor lungs and prevent primary graft dysfunction. These projects utilize in vitro models as well as mouse and pig models of ischemia-reperfusion injury, EVLP, and lung transplantation.

Dr. Laubach's laboratory has been NIH-funded continuously since 1998, and he currently serves on the editorial board of six peer-review journals. He also serve as a reviewer for many scientific journals as well as an ad hoc reviewer for NIH. He is a member of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), The Transplantation Society (TTS), and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT).  Dr. Laubach has extensive experience with laboratory training and research mentorship of >50 trainees including surgery residents, postdocs, graduate students, medical students and undergraduate students.