This month we speak to researcher Louise Organ from The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne about her work trying to understand what contributes to the progression of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
What’s the issue your research is trying to solve?
In particular we have been focusing on how to fibroblasts become dysregulated in IPF and how this contributes to the progression of the disease.
What have you discovered so far?
We are finding differences in the behaviour of fibroblasts isolated from the top and bottom lobes of IPF patients, including their growth and proliferation, phenotypic state i.e activation and response to stimulants such MMP7.
What’s been your biggest hurdle?
Understanding where potential downstream effects in the fibroblasts are coming from and how this alters the response of the fibroblast. Sometimes a particular stimulus as had a different effect on the fibroblast than expected, as opposed to a simple pro-fibrotic or pro-inflammatory response and this needs to be then further investigated as to what other potential cells or factors are involved.
What part of your findings excites you the most?
Being able to work with patient samples, and more directly connect it to the clinical setting. It helps remind me of the importance and reason why I do science and research.