David Ingbar, MD

Professor of Medicine, Physiology & Pediatrics
Director of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Division
Co-Medical Director of Medical ICU and Respiratory Care

Contact Information

Research Interests

Dr. Ingbar is researching alveolar epithelial repair and clearance of alveolar edema fluid.  The principal objective of this research is to understand the regulation of alveolar epithelial ion transport and the specific proteins involved (sodium pump, chloride channels and sodium channel) during lung development, and lung injury and repair.  The long-term goal is to develop in vitro and in vivo strategies to augment alveolar fluid clearance.  Current projects includes studies of hormonal effects on alveolar fluid clearance and the transport proteins, particularly the sodium pump – Na,K-ATPase.  We are examining the mechanisms by which hormones augment sodium pump activity, including effects on intracellular trafficking, translation and transcription. Studies examine the responses during injury/repair and compare these with developmental regulation.  The lab uses a combination of molecular biologic, biochemical and physiologic approaches, including studies in vitro and in vivo.  Given the widespread involvement of oxidants in lung disease, we also study the effects of oxidants on these proteins, and their regulation.  Injury model studies include hyperoxia, post-bone marrow transplant and bio-defense agents.  Finally the lab is interested in developing new methods to promote alveolar epithelial repair, such as stimulating alveolar epithelial migration.  The barrier functions of the epithelium are critical in lung development, repair and prevention of ongoing alveolar flooding.

These activities include collaborations with Drs.  Christine Wendt and  Peter Bitterman within the Pulmonary Division and, for studies of hormonal regulation, Dr.  Cary Mariash in the Endocrine Division.  Extra-Departmental collaborators include Drs.  O. Douglas Wangensteen Ph.D. (Physiology), Scott M. O'Grady Ph.D. (Animal Science & Physiology),  Scott McIvor Ph.D., (Genetics, Cell Biology & Development) and Howard Towle Ph.D. (Biochemistry).

A major clinical problem after bone marrow transplantation is lung injury. Collaborative studies with Drs.  Bruce Blazar and  Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari in Pediatric Hematology and Imad Haddad in Pediatric Pulmonary are examining epithelial function and repair in a mouse model of post-BMT lung injury.

Clinical Interests

Dr. Ingbar's clinical interests include acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, massive hemoptysis, management of respiratory failure, and pulmonary embolism.

Educational Interests

Dr. Ingbar is involved in the training of physician scientists and is a former President of Association of Pulmonary & Critical Care Program Directors and Chair of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Training Committee.  He led an ATS project on career development of physician scientists that is developing a proposed Society statement and document.  He frequently serves on NIH Review Panels for K23/24, K08 and T32 grants.  He also served on the American Lung Association Research Fellowship and Career Investigator Review Committee for 6 years, including 3 years as Chair.

Current and Recent Honors

• Secretary-Treasurer (2004-2005), Vice President (2005-2006), President-Elect 2006-2007 and President 2007-2008, American Thoracic Society
• President, National Association of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Program Directors 2003-2004
• Editorial Board, American Journal of Physiology (Lung Cell & Molecular)
• Member, FOCCUS – joint working group on Critical Care of the American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians, Society of Critical Care Medicine and American Association of Critical Care Nurses
• Member, Pulmonary Subspecialty Board, American Board of Internal Medicine 1998-2004
• Chair, Planning Committee of American Thoracic Society Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology Assembly 2000-2003
• Secretary (Elected), Respiration Section, American Physiological Society 1999-2002
• Past Chair - American Lung Association, Research Fellowship and Career Investigator Award Committee
• Chair, Recent Advances September 2004-Present
  
  Current and Recent Grant Support

• Principal Investigator:  “Training in Lung Science” NIH T32 Training Grant (2004-2009)
• Co-Investigator (10% effort) “Steroid Hormone Regulation of Lung Na,K-ATPase, CH Wendt P.I., NIH RO1
• Co-Investigator (10% effort): Early Lung Inflammatory Injury Post-BMT," B. Blazar, P.I., NIH RO1 (1999-2009)
• Mentor, NIH K08 Awards of Drs. Christine Wendt, Hyun Kim, and Joseph Lasnier.
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  Selected Publications
  
  Kelley MA, Angus D, Chalfin DB, Crandall ED, Ingbar DH, Johnson W, Medina J, Sessler CN, Vender JS.  The critical care crisis in the United States: A report from the profession.    Chest  125:1514-1517, 2004.
  
  Ingbar DH.  Pulmonary edema clearance – Juicing up the sodium pump.  Am J Respir Crit Care Med  171:201-203, 2005.

Weinert CR, Billings J, Ryan R, Ingbar DH.  Academic and career development of pulmonary and critical care physician scientists.  Am J Respir Crit Care Med  173:23-31, 2005.

Strohl KP, Ingbar DH, Berry R, Coppola M, Hading S, Matthay R, et al.  Curriculum and competency assessment tools for sleep disorders in pulmonary fellowship training programs.  Am J Respir Crit Care Med  172: 391-397, 2005.

Lei J, Wendt CH, Fan D, Mariash CN, Ingbar DH.  Developmental aquisition of T3-sensitive NA,K-ATPase stimulation by rat alveolar epithelial cells.  AJP: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.  292(1): L6-14, 2007.

Lei J, Mariash CN, Bhargava M, Wattenberg EV, Ingbar DH.  T3 increases Na,K-ATPase activity via MAPK/ERK1/2-dependent pathway in rat adult alveolar epithelial cells.  Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Obesity 2007;14(5):416-420.

Bhargava M, Lei J, Mariash CN, Ingbar DH.  Thyroid hormone rapidly stimulates alveolar Na,K-ATPase by activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes, 14:1-5. 2007.

Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Cooke KR, Madtes DK, Belperio JA, Ingbar DH et al.  Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome: research update.  Am J. Respir Crit Care Med (2008, in review).

Bhargava M, Runyon M, Smirnov D, Lei J, Mariash C, Podobinski J,  Wangensteen OD, Ingbar DH.  T3 rapidly stimulates alveolar fluid clearance in nomal and hyperopxia-injured rat lungs.  Am J Resp Crit Care Med, in press 2008.

Last Updated 5/30/2008