Walter E. Finkbeiner, MD, PhD

My major clinical interests include autopsy pathology, fetal pathology, forensic medicine and pulmonary pathology. My basic research interest focuses on the pathology and pathophysiology of the chronic airway diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic bronchitis and asthma. Using in vitro models of airway surface epithelial and gland cells along with human tissue samples, our laboratory studies differentiation of the airway epithelium, regulation of airway secretion, composition of respiratory mucus, and mechanisms underlying airway gland hyperplasia. We also develop airway cell models for high throughput screening and CF drug discovery.