Raymond B. Penn, PhD
Director, Center for Translational Medicine
Director, Pulmonary Research
Robley Dunglison Professor in Pulmonary Research
Contact
1020 Locust Street
Suite 543C
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-955-9982
215-503-5731 fax
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Raymond B. Penn, PhD
Director, Center for Translational Medicine
Director, Pulmonary Research
Robley Dunglison Professor in Pulmonary Research
Research & Clinical Interests
Airway biology
GPCR biology
Asthma pharmacology
Renal transporter biology
Cancer biology
Asthma, COPD
Obstructive and fibrotic lung diseases
Chronic metabolic acidosis
The major focus of my research is to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms by which G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate important functions in airway cells. GPCR signaling regulates contractile function, synthesis and release of autocrine factors, and cell growth/survival in various airway cells, including airway smooth muscle (ASM), airway epithelium, lung fibroblasts, and T lymphocytes. Aberrant GPCR signaling or exaggerated presentation of GPCR stimuli can promote ASM hypercontractility, airway remodeling, and ASM hyperplasia/hypertrophy, all of which contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma and COPD. Moreover, GPCRs appear to mediate important mitogenic and survival signaling pathways in cells comprising the tumor microenvironment- including epithelia, fibroblasts, stem cells, and inflammatory cells- rendering them potentially important therapeutic targets in the treatment of cancer. Finally, many GPCR genes possess mutations that alter their expression or function; we are particularly interested in characterizing such altered function and its contribution to disease state or disease therapy.
Education
PhD Physiology, Temple University College of Medicine 1988
MS Ed Education, University of Pennsylvania 1980
BA History, University of Pennsylvania 1980
Most Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Molecular mechanism of bitter taste receptor agonist-mediated relaxation of airway smooth muscle
- Nestin drives allergen-induced airway smooth muscle hyperplasia and airway remodeling
- Reactive Oxygen Species Behaving Badly: Oxidized Phosphatidylcholines Corrupt Ca2 Signaling in Airway Smooth Muscle
- Crosstalk between diacylglycerol kinase and protein kinase A in the regulation of airway smooth muscle cell proliferation
- Prorelaxant E-type Prostanoid Receptors Functionally Partition to Different Procontractile Receptors in Airway Smooth Muscle
University Appointments
- Professor of Medicine
- Robley Dunglison Professor of Pulmonary Research
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine
- Director, Center for Translational Medicine
- Director of Pulmonary Research, Jefferson - Jane and Leonard Korman Lung Center
- Vice Chair of Research, Department of Medicine
Professional Societies
- American Thoracic Society