Matthew D. McGraw, M.D.

Dr. McGraw's research involves understanding the mechanisms of aberrant airway epithelial repair after inhalation injuries. The primary pediatric lung disease studied is bronchiolitis obliterans (BO), a devastating and often progressive fibrotic lung disease characterized by progressive luminal narrowing and obliteration of the small airways, or bronchioles. Despite BO's high morbidity and mortality, very little is known about its pathogenesis, and even less is available in terms of prevention, intervention and treatment.

Inhalation agents used to study the mechanisms of aberrant airway epithelial repair include sulfur mustard (SM), a chemical warfare inhalation agent, and diacetyl, a volatile chemical in many flavorings. Both of these inhalation agents can cause bronchiolitis obliterans in children.

Basic science techniques include: small animal model development; primary airway epithelial cell isolation; flow sorting; 3D cell culture; single cell RNA sequencing.