University of Pennsylvania / School of Medicine / Beers Lab

Welcome

We have moved!

The Beers' Laboratory for Surfactant Biology in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division in the Department of Medicine has relocated to brand new research space in the Vernon and Shirley Hill Pavilion of the School of Veterinary Medicine at 380 S. University Avenue. Opened in December 2006, the Hill Pavilion represents a joint venture between the School of Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine, and is positioned ideally between the School of Medicine, Philadelphia Veteran's Administration Medical Center, and the Ryan Veterinary Hospital. In addition to new state of the art research and teaching facilities, Hill Pavilion has transpositioned faculty from 2 internationally renowned schools at PENN and will promote exciting new collaborations.

The pulmonary epithelium synthesizes and secretes a surface-active film of biochemically heterogeneous lipoprotein mixture (lung surfactant) that reduces surface tension at air-liquid interfaces and allows for maintenance of alveolar stability at low lung volumes. In addition several protein components of the surfactant system are now recognized as part of an emerging family of proteins important for innate host defense and modulation of inflammation, the collectins.

My laboratory is engaged in the investigation of the life-cycle of the surfactant proteins with studies directed at understanding their synthesis, intracellular trafficking, and secretion into the alveolar space. Results from these studies will have direct applicability toward the understanding of the role of altered surfactant metabolism and function in the pathogenesis of both adult and neonatal pulmonary disease including ARDS, neonatal RDS, surfactant protein deficiencies, and alveolar proteinosis.