Welcome to the Gentzsch lab webpage

A primary goal of our studies is to uncover potential targets for therapy of chronic lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF).

The laboratory is interested in improving pre-clinical models for CFTR research and drug discovery in CF, and we have developed reliable methodology to analyze ion channel physiology in relevant primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE), human nasal epithelial (HNE) and GI cultures. We are applying these techniques and electrophysiological assays to evaluate CFTR rescue by small-molecule compounds in primary and conditionally reprogrammed epithelial nasal, bronchial, and intestinal cultures and tissues. In addition, we have developed and are utilizing state-of-the-art pre-clinical assays to investigate the efficacy of novel therapeutic approaches to CF in relevant in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models of CF including organoids from different tissues.

We are also interested in the pharmacological modulation of other airway epithelial ion channels, such as, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), and calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs).