James Gern leads several NIH-funded studies to define the role of viral infections in the initiation and disease activity of asthma and to identify interactions between host and viral factors that determine the severity of respiratory illnesses. He also leads translational research projects to identify virus-induced inflammatory mechanisms involving airway epithelial cells and T regulatory cells, and experimental inoculation studies of volunteers with asthma using a safety-tested strain of rhinovirus.
Jim is also leads the Urban Environment and Childhood Asthma (URECA) study to identify lifestyle and environmental factors (including viral infections) unique to the urban environment that influence early immune development to increase the risks for allergic diseases and asthma.