Christian D Becker, MD, PhD
img_Christian D Becker
PROFESSOR | Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Research Topics
Antigen Presentation, Autoimmunity, Chemokines, Chemotaxis, Dendritic Cells, Fibrosis, Immunology, Lung, Lymphocytes, Mucosal Immunology, Respiratory Tract
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronically progressive, irreversible and ultimately fatal fibrosing lung disease. The disease affects many patients worldwide without any geographical or racial predilection. The prevalence in the US is estimated at around 20 cases per 100,000 for males and 13 cases per 100,000 for females. The disease imposes both a high symptom burden and an ultimately fatal prognosis on affected patients and their families. The median survival time after diagnosis currently is only 2.5 to 3.5 years. Our understanding of this disease, its cause(s) and underlying pathogenetic mechanisms is poor. There is no effective treatment available to date. Secondary forms of pulmonary fibrosis affect a much higher number of patients, but exact numbers on prevalence, morbidity and mortality are difficult to estimate given the heterogeneity of the different underlying conditions. A characterization of how the different dendritic cell subsets are dysfunctional in pulmonary fibrosis will help to better understand the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms and may offer new insights into therapeutic options to halt the progression of the fibrotic remodeling process in patients afflicted with this condition.


Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that prominently affects the lungs in almost all cases. There are multiple studies suggesting an interesting functional role of dendritic cells in this disease, which – together with the fact that our medical center is a longstanding center of excellence in sarcoidosis research and a regional referral center for patients with the whole spectrum of clinical disease phenotypes - makes it a prime candidate to assess the different DC subpopulations in affected human lung and locoregionary lymph node tissue and to correlate the findings with the various different disease phenotypes we see at Mount Sinai (resolving disease vs. chronically progressive or fibrosing disease).

Human Lung Dendritic Cell Anatomic and Functional Diversity

The respiratory tract is one of the organ systems in the human body directly confronted with the outside world, making effective immune surveillance and defense mechanisms essential. Dendritic cells (DCs) are emerging as prominent regulators of immune responses in the lung. Historically, a large body of work has looked into the anatomic and functional properties of DCs in the respiratory system. Recent studies utilizing novel research techniques are rapidly expanding our knowledge. Most of this recent work has been done using animal models. We are characterizing the phenotypes of dendritic cells in the normal human lung and in disease states in which dendritic cells are either proven or implicated to play important roles in pathogenesis and pathophysiology, namely, but not limited to, sarcoidosis and idiopathic as well as secondary forms of pulmonary fibrosis.


2013

Outstanding Medical Educator Award

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

2012

Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award

Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship Program

2012

Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship Award

Roche Pharmaceuticals

2011

Faculty Training Grant Award in Cancer Biology

National Cancer Institute

2010

Research Award

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award

2009

Research Fellowship Award

Lucille A. Fennessy Pulmonary Research Foundation, New York, NY

2009

Fellow

American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP)

2005

Outstanding Graduating Resident Award

Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA

2001

PhD thesis awarded 'Summa Cum Laude'

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies, and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.

Dr. Becker has not yet completed reporting of Industry relationships.

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