Current Projects

Ongoing programs in the lab examining cannabis exposure, delivery, aging, and immune modulation.

Cannabis use and development

How does cannabis exposure during development shape lung and systemic health?

This program examines developmental windows of cannabis exposure and their consequences for respiratory and systemic outcomes, using cell-based models, animal studies, and clinical data.

Cannabis delivery methods

Do smoke, vapour, and other delivery routes produce distinct biological effects?

This program compares cannabis delivery methods—including smoke and vapour—to understand how route of administration influences lung and systemic responses.

Cannabis and aging/senescence

How does cannabis exposure intersect with cellular senescence and aging in the lung?

This program investigates links between cannabis exposure, cellular senescence, and age-related changes in lung and systemic health.

Cannabis and immunomodulatory therapy

Can cannabis-related exposures inform immunomodulatory strategies in the lung?

This program explores cannabis-related inhaled exposures alongside immunomodulatory approaches relevant to lung inflammation and host defense.

Previous Projects

Earlier and collaborative programs that inform current directions.

From Milad et al., ERJ Open Research, 2023.

Cannabis exposure and respiratory health

How does cannabis exposure reshape antiviral immunity and respiratory risk?

Inhaled cannabisAntiviral immunityTobacco co-use

ApproachesMurine infection models · Longitudinal cohorts

Evidence snapshot+1 related

  1. 2024Dried Cannabis Use, Tobacco Smoking, and COVID-19 Infection: Findings from a Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study
  2. 2023Cannabis smoke suppresses antiviral immune responses to influenza A in mice

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From Milad et al., Toxicol and Appl Pharmacol, unpublished.

Vaping product chemistry and airway immunity

Which constituents of vaping liquids drive airway immune and metabolic effects?

Flavor chemicalsGlycerol toxicologyAirway immunity

ApproachesAerosol exposures · Pulmonary immunology · Metabolic readouts

Evidence snapshot+1 related

  1. 2025Flavor chemicals in vaping products induce pulmonary dendritic cell maturation
  2. 2022Glycerol contained in vaping liquids affects the liver and aspects of energy homeostasis in a sex‐dependent manner

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From Milad et al., J Immunol, 2021.

Cigarette smoke, inflammation, and lung homeostasis

How do smoke exposures disrupt lung immune homeostasis?

Emphysema geneticsNeutrophilsSurfactant biology

ApproachesPreclinical smoke models · Tissue transcriptomics · Immune phenotyping

Evidence snapshot+4 related

  1. 2026A mutation in PTPN6 associated to emphysema alters B-lymphocyte biology in humans and mice
  2. 2025Bleomycin promotes cellular senescence and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway without direct effect on fibrosis in an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis model
  3. 2024Lung Tissue Transcriptomics Reveal Associations Between Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Signaling, Mast Cells, and Airway Obstruction in Active Smokers

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From Singer, Milad, et al., ERJ Open Research, 2025.

Open methods for airway exposure studies

Can open tools make human airway exposure studies more rigorous and shareable?

Airway epitheliumOpen hardwareCFTR physiology

ApproachesAir–liquid interface culture · 3D-printed exposure systems · Epithelial assays

Evidence snapshot+2 related

  1. 2026Effects of cAMP and CFTR modulation on apical fluid pH in human airway Calu‐3 cells
  2. 2025Editorial: Methods in respiratory pharmacology 2023
  3. 2025Open-source, three-dimensionally printed manifolds for exposure studies using human airway epithelial cells

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Miura, Milad, et al., Aging, 2025.

Collaborative respiratory research

Where do endothelial repair programs and clinical respiratory studies intersect the lab’s work?

Endothelial biologyClinical physiologyCollaborative studies

ApproachesTranslational collaborations · Tissue and clinical datasets

Evidence snapshot+2 related

  1. 2026CD146⁺ endothelial and pericyte populations define a repair-associated neovascularization program in rheumatoid arthritis pannus
  2. 2026Neovascularization in rheumatoid arthritis pannus is orchestrated by endothelial-pericyte signaling
  3. 2022Role of progression of training volume on intramuscular adaptations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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From Milad et al., Skeletal Muscle, 2017.

Neuromuscular and vascular disease models

How do metabolic and vascular pathways modify Marfan and muscular dystrophy phenotypes?

Marfan aortopathyMuscular dystrophyLipid metabolism

ApproachesGenetic mouse models · Pharmacology · Vascular phenotyping

Evidence snapshot+4 related

  1. 2023Humanization of the mdx Mouse Phenotype for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Modeling: A Metabolic Perspective
  2. 2022Cholesterol absorption blocker ezetimibe prevents muscle wasting in severe dysferlin‐deficient and mdx mice
  3. 2022Pleiotropic activation of endothelial function by angiotensin II receptor blockers is crucial to their protective anti-vascular remodeling effects

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Join or collaborate

Prospective students

If your interests align with a program above — especially inhaled exposures, lung immunity, or epithelial methods — start with a short note of interest.

Work with us

Scientists & collaborators

For shared experiments, methods, or cannabis literature workflows, reach out directly.

Email the labRead publications