{"id":2279,"date":"2025-07-24T10:24:30","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T14:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/?page_id=2279"},"modified":"2026-01-06T13:08:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:08:33","slug":"the-pirc-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/the-pirc-team\/","title":{"rendered":"The PIRC Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Directors<\/h2>\n            <section>\n                <ul class=\"divisions-container \" aria-label=\"people-directory\">\n            <li class=\"row post entry\">\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-thumbnail\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <div class=\"upd-image\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"upd_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/07\/Ale.jpg\" alt=\" \" height=\"160\" width=\"120\"\/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"print_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/07\/Ale.jpg\" alt=\" \" \/>\n                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \t\n            <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-content\">\n\n                    <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                                    Alessandra Livraghi-Butrico, Ph.D                            <\/div>\n        \n\n        <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions\"><p class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions__title\">Director, Animal Models and Mucosal Immunology<\/p>            <\/div>\n                \n                                                <div class=\"som-directory-profile-single__contact\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"phone-num-wrap\">\n                                                                <div class=\"ud-contact-label\">\n                                    Office: \n                                    <span class=\"ud-contact\">\n                                        <a href=\"tel:9198431097\">\n                                            919-843-1097                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/span>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n\n                                             \n                \n                                            <div class=\"ud-contact-label\">\n                            Email: \n                            <span class=\"ud-contact\">\n                                <a href=\"mailto:alessandra_livraghi@med.unc.edu\">\n                                    alessandra_livraghi@med.unc.edu                                <\/a>\n                            <\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                    \n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__summary\"><p><strong>Office<\/strong>: 7211 Marsico Hall<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Livraghi-Butrico joined the UNC Marsico Lung Institute\/Cystic Fibrosis Center in 2002 and since then has been involved in a variety of projects aimed at understanding the basic mechanisms governing airway mucus clearance in health and disease. Specifically, her research focuses on how alterations in airway surface hydration, mucus production, mucin assembly, and early postnatal development impact other components of the airway mucosal immune system.<\/p>\n<\/div>    \n<\/li><li class=\"row post entry\">\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-thumbnail\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <div class=\"upd-image\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"upd_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/07\/Greg.jpg\" alt=\" \" height=\"160\" width=\"120\"\/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"print_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/07\/Greg.jpg\" alt=\" \" \/>\n                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \t\n            <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-content\">\n\n                    <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                                    Gregory Smith, Ph.D                            <\/div>\n        \n\n        <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions\"><p class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions__title\">Director, Aerosol and Inhalation Research<\/p>            <\/div>\n                \n                                                <div class=\"som-directory-profile-single__contact\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"phone-num-wrap\">\n                                                                <div class=\"ud-contact-label\">\n                                    Mobile: \n                                    <span class=\"ud-contact\">\n                                        <a href=\"tel:9734598881\">\n                                            973-459-8881                                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/span>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n\n                                             \n                \n                                            <div class=\"ud-contact-label\">\n                            Email: \n                            <span class=\"ud-contact\">\n                                <a href=\"mailto:gregory.j.smith@unc.edu\">\n                                    gregory.j.smith@unc.edu                                <\/a>\n                            <\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n                    \n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__summary\"><p><strong>Office<\/strong>:\u00a05070E Genetic Medicine Building<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Smith is a respiratory toxicologist with more than a decade of experience and additional postdoctoral training in toxicogenomics. His research is founded upon the use of inhalation toxicology and environmental medicine to improve public health. In particular, Dr. Smith is interested in uncovering genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying adverse respiratory effects of airborne toxicants and developing inhaled therapeutics for the treatment of lung injury and disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>    \n<\/li>                <\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n                            <\/nav>\n\n            \n<h2>Core Staff<\/h2>\n            <section>\n                <ul class=\"divisions-container \" aria-label=\"people-directory\">\n            <li class=\"row post entry\">\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-thumbnail\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <div class=\"upd-image\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"upd_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/12\/Gray-cropped-257x300-1.avif\" alt=\" \" height=\"160\" width=\"120\"\/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"print_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/12\/Gray-cropped-257x300-1.avif\" alt=\" \" \/>\n                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \t\n            <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-content\">\n\n                    <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                                    Tyler Gray, BS                            <\/div>\n        \n\n        <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions\"><p class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions__title\">Research Specialist<\/p>            <\/div>\n                \n                                                <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__summary\"><p>Tyler joined the PIRC in 2022 after graduating from Christopher Newport University where he obtained a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Tyler contributed to experimental efforts of NIH contracts for establishment of chronic bacterial infections and now specializes in bronchoscopic instillation in mouse models.<\/p>\n<\/div>    \n<\/li><li class=\"row post entry\">\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-thumbnail\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <div class=\"upd-image\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"upd_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/12\/Kennedy-cropped-256x300-1.avif\" alt=\" \" height=\"160\" width=\"120\"\/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"print_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/12\/Kennedy-cropped-256x300-1.avif\" alt=\" \" \/>\n                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \t\n            <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-content\">\n\n                    <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                                    Joey Kennedy, MS                            <\/div>\n        \n\n        <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions\"><p class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions__title\">Research Specialist<\/p>            <\/div>\n                \n                                                <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__summary\"><p>Joey has an MS in Biological Sciences from the University of Mississippi. Before coming to UNC, he worked as a Research Associate and Manager of the Animal Metabolism and Behavior Core at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Joey joined the PIRC in 2023 and specializes in experimental challenges, specifically with phenotyping and exposure devices like the DSI Inhalation Tower and SciREQ Flexivent.<\/p>\n<\/div>    \n<\/li><li class=\"row post entry\">\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-thumbnail\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <div class=\"upd-image\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"upd_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/07\/Rowan-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\" \" height=\"160\" width=\"120\"\/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"print_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/07\/Rowan-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\" \" \/>\n                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \t\n            <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-content\">\n\n                    <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                                    Rowan Merritt, BS                            <\/div>\n        \n\n        <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions\"><p class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions__title\">Research Technician<\/p>            <\/div>\n                \n                                                <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__summary\"><p>Rowan received their BS in Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2021. They have been a research technician with Dr. Smith since 2022. Rowan specializes in various laboratory techniques, including ELISA, qPCR, cell culture, and immunohistochemistry. Rowan is also actively involved in colony management for the collaborative cross mouse models.<\/p>\n<\/div>    \n<\/li><li class=\"row post entry\">\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-thumbnail\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <div class=\"upd-image\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"upd_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/12\/Snead-cropped-257x300-1.avif\" alt=\" \" height=\"160\" width=\"120\"\/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"print_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/12\/Snead-cropped-257x300-1.avif\" alt=\" \" \/>\n                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \t\n            <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-content\">\n\n                    <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                                    Jazmin Snead, MAS                            <\/div>\n        \n\n        <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions\"><p class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions__title\">Research Specialist<\/p>            <\/div>\n                \n                                                <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__summary\"><p>Jazmin has an MR in Animal Science from NC State University and had experience as a Research Technician for the Division of Comparative Medicine at UNC before joining the PIRC in 2023. Jazmin specializes in laboratory animals handling, mouse colony management, agarose western blots, and immunohistochemistry.<\/p>\n<\/div>    \n<\/li><li class=\"row post entry\">\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-thumbnail\">\n                                                                    \n                            <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                    <div class=\"upd-image\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"upd_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/12\/20180608_153149-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\" \" height=\"160\" width=\"120\"\/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"print_img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1461\/2025\/12\/20180608_153149-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\" \" \/>\n                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            \t\n            <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"directory-gallery-content\">\n\n                    <div class=\"entry-title\">\n                                    Meredith Zeller, Ph.D                            <\/div>\n        \n\n        <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions\"><p class=\"ud-gallery-view__positions__title\">Research Specialist<\/p>            <\/div>\n                \n                                                <div class=\"ud-gallery-view__summary\"><p><main class=\"main col-sm-9\">Meredith has a PhD in biological chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill and has experience in biological research from the molecular scale all the way to in vivo models. Meredith joined the PIRC in March 2024 and is active in various research projects with expertise in experimental design, bacteriology, and light-sheet microscopy.<\/main>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>    \n<\/li>                <\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n                            <\/nav>\n\n            \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Directors Core Staff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121374,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-2279","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","odd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The PIRC Team - Pulmonary and Inhalation Research Core<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/marsicolunginstitute\/pirc\/the-pirc-team\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The PIRC Team - 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