Dr. Kosmider’s translational research interests center on primary alveolar type II cells. These cells make and secrete pulmonary surfactants, and proliferate to restore the epithelium after damage to the more sensitive alveolar type I cells.

Dr. Kosmider isolates alveolar type II cells from human and murine lungs to determine the mechanism of cell injury and impaired repair after exposure to various factors such as cigarette smoke, e-cigarette aerosols, bacterial and viral infections.

Dr. Kosmider’s laboratory analyzes the inflammatory response and antioxidant defense system in these cells -- using cellular, molecular biology, and biochemistry approaches – and focuses on strategies to enhance alveolar type II cell proliferation and differentiation for lung regeneration after injury.

In addition, Dr. Kosmider studies the mechanism of pulmonary emphysema development and progression. Emphysema is characterized by the loss of alveolar structure and air space enlargement. As therapy for this disease is limited, a deeper understanding of emphysema pathogenesis could lead to novel treatments to slow down alveolar wall destruction.