Lora Bankova, MD

Solitary chemosensory cells are scattered in the respiratory epithelium and detect airborne particles, but their function in airway defense and airway inflammation is poorly understood. My research has identified that these cells, also termed brush or tuft cells, sense allergens and extracellular ATP, a damage-associated molecular pattern, and produce pro-inflammatory molecules that direct neuronal reflexes and airway inflammation.  I am interested in understanding how allergens and respiratory viruses initiate inflammation and epithelial damage, exhaust repair mechanisms in the airway mucosa, and disrupt normal tissue healing to promote the transition to epithelial and olfactory dysfunction.