Michael Solomon, MD
Critical Care Medicine Department, NIH, DHHS
Bethesda, Maryland

Session Chair
Emerging Diseases Associated with Pulmonary Hypertension

Dr. Solomon is a staff clinician in the Critical Care Medicine Department at the NIH Warren Magnuson Clinical Center.   A graduate of Brown University, Dr. Solomon earned his MD at New York University.  He completed his residency at the University of Texas, Southwestern, and Critical Care Medicine fellowship at the Clinical Center, NIH.  As well as a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at University of Texas, Southwestern

His research lab is focused on translational research in the fields of cardiac transplantation and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Protocols have been designed (see below) that focus departmental and NIH core facility strengths (genomics, proteomics, and flow cytometry) with disease processes of patient populations of interest in our community. Clinical and research collaborations have been established with local transplant and pulmonary hypertension centers.

The lab is involved in a collaborative effort to isolate viable circulating endothelial cells in adequate quantities for gene expression profiling. Clinical application of the techniques being developed should provide considerable insight into mechanisms governing the development and progression of endothelial dysfunction in vascular diseases.

Genomics (RT-PCR, oligonucleotide microarrays) and proteomics (MALDI [Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization] TOF-TOF [Time of Flight], SELDI [surface enhanced laser desorption ionization] TOF) are being used in conjunction with a heterotopic transplant model and clinical protocols to identify biomarkers of and gain insight into the mechanisms of acute cellular rejection (ACR) and coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV). These technologies have the potential to foster the development of reliable noninvasive diagnostic tests for ACR and CAV.