2026 Annual TMC Collaborative Symposium: Acute and Chronic Lung Diseases, from Mechanisms to Therapies
The 2026 Annual TMC Collaborative Symposium, held on February 11, 2026, at the McGovern Medical School, provided an in-depth look at the latest advancements in pulmonary research and therapeutic strategies. The event was a collaboration between the Institute for Perioperative Medicine (IPM) and the Center for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (CPCM) to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and clinical application for lung diseases.
The symposium was structured into four specialized sessions:
- Session I: Pulmonary Challenges & High-Level Perspectives: Holger Eltzschig opened with a look at how oxygen-sensing mechanisms, specifically hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF), can be targeted to treat virus-associated ARDS. Dr. Lavannya Pandit explored the physiological nuances of pulmonary hypertension, focusing on how different receptor activities across various anatomical locations influence how blood vessels react. Dr. Scott Evans rounded out the session by discussing ways to bolster the lung’s epithelial lining to better resist pneumonia.
- Session II: Lung Injury & Physiological Mechanisms: This session focused on the body’s internal responses to respiratory stress. Xiaoyi Yuan detailed research into microRNAs (specifically miR-27a) that act as natural protective pathways against ventilator-induced lung injury. Dr. Marcos Vidal Melo used large animal models to show the spatial differences in lung structure and signaling during ARDS. Additionally, Dr. Tingting Mills presented evidence that a breakdown in the body’s internal clock (circadian biology), specifically the loss of the Cryptochrome protein, can lead to COPD-like symptoms.
- Session III: Chronic Fibrosis & Immune Dysregulation: The focus shifted to long-term lung scarring and immune responses. Lindsay J. Celada discussed how memory CD8+ T cells become dysregulated in fibrotic lung disease. Clinical applications were highlighted by Dr. Paul Potnuru, who investigated the HIF-activator vadadustat as a potential treatment for SARS-CoV-2-related injury. Dr. Chao He also examined how the physical stiffness and environment of the lung influence the metabolism of macrophages, a key immune cell involved in fibrosis.
- Session IV: Aging, Repair, and Cellular Stress: The final session addressed the challenges of treating older populations. Louise Hecker emphasized that ARDS treatment must account for age-dependent cellular dysfunction. Dr. Antony Rodriguez decoded non-coding RNA networks that cause essential alveolar cells (AT2) to fail. Dr. Harry Karmouty-Quintana presented on the protein SIX1 and its role in driving lung scarring after severe injury, while Dr. Francesca Polverino addressed the critical question of whether emphysema tissue, which was previously thought to be permanently lost, can actually be repaired.
The day concluded with a call to action from Dr. Farrah Kheradmand, who noted that these scientific dialogues are the foundation for the cross-institutional partnerships necessary to solve complex pulmonary issues across the Texas Medical Center.
