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Jacob N. Finkelstein, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Office: (585) 275-5220

Faculty Appointments

Biography

Research

Dr. Finkelstein's laboratory research emphasizes the role of the alveolar epithelium in modulating the pulmonary injury response to physiological and toxicological stimuli. This includes studies of oxidant induced signaling in the pulmonary epithelium and macrophages and epithelial production of cytokines and chemokines in the regulation of the inflammatory functions of alveolar macrophages. His previous research effort focused on the pulmonary alveolar type II cell as the site of pulmonary surfactant synthesis and secretion, and studies on the basic cell and molecular biology of these processes are still an important facet of his work. In addition, the type II cell also plays an important role as the stem cell for renewal of the alveolar epithelium both in the normal lung development and during epithelial repair and renewal following lung injury. The most recent data suggest that type II cells may also be involved in regulating the inflammatory functions of alveolar macrophages, as well as the actions of interstitial fibroblasts during lung growth or pulmonary fibrosis.
The overall goal of the current research is to identify some of the key control mechanisms involved in epithelial cell and fibroblast proliferation, and in related extracellular matrix synthesis, processing and assembly. This work seeks to define such mechanisms not only during normal lung growth and normal development, but also during the repair of epithelial damage, and may have important implications for pediatric and adult lung disease, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. This work is funded by grants from NIH, EPA and DoD.

The overall goal of some of their additional current research is to identify some of the key control mechanisms involved in epithelial cell and fibroblast proliferation, and in related extracellular matrix synthesis, processing and assembly. This work seeks to define such mechanisms not only during normal lung growth and normal development, but also during the repair of epithelial damage, and may have important implications for pediatric and adult lung disease, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants.

Credentials

Education

1971
BS | Carnegie-Mellon University
Chemistry

1976
PhD | Northwestern University
Biochemistry

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

1977 - 1978
NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Radiation Biology and Biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY

1976 - 1977
NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Radiation Biology and Biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY

Awards

2006
March of Dimes Health Leadership Award

1986
Elected member, Perinatal Research Society

1974
Sigma Xi Graduate Research Symposium Award

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Publications

Journal Articles

8/29/2023
Grimshaw C, Keteyian SJ, Benzo R, Finkelstein J, Forman DE, Gaalema DE, Peterson PN, Einhorn PT, Punturieri A, Shero S, Fleg JL. "Baseline Characteristics and Barriers to Recruitment in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation NIH-Funded Trials." Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention.. 2023 Aug 29; Epub 2023 Aug 29.

5/1/2023
Beach TA, Finkelstein JN, Chang PY. "Epithelial Responses in Radiation-Induced Lung Injury (RILI) Allow Chronic Inflammation and Fibrogenesis." Radiation research.. 2023 May 1; 199(5):439-451.

3/15/2023
Beach TA, Finkelstein JN, Chang PY. "Epithelial Responses in Radiation-Induced Lung Injury (RILI) Allow Chronic Inflammation and Fibrogenesis." Radiation research.. 2023 Mar 15; Epub 2023 Mar 15.

Books & Chapters

2005
Chapter Title: Cell and animal models of lung injury
Book Title: Lung Injury: Mechanisms, Pathophysiology, and Therapy
Author List: Finkelstein JN, O'Reilly M, Holm BA, Chess PR, Notter RH
Edited By: Notter RH, Finkelstein JN, Holm BA
Published By: Taylor & Francis Group 2005 in Boca Raton, FL

2005
Chapter Title: Surfactant replacement therapy in lung injury.
Book Title: Lung Injury: Mechanisms, Pathophysiology, and Therapy
Author List: Chess PR, Finkelstein JN, Holm BA, Notter RH
Edited By: Notter RH, Finkelstein JN, Holm BA
Published By: Taylor & Francis Group 2005 in Boca Raton, FL

2005
Chapter Title: Combined-modality therapies for lung Injury
Book Title: Lung Injury: Mechanisms, Pathophysiology, and Therapy
Author List: Pryhuber GS, D'Angio CT, Finkelstein JN, Notter RH
Edited By: Notter RH, Finkelstein JN, Holm BA
Published By: Taylor & Francis Group 2005 in Boca Raton, FL

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