Department of Medicine

Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Faculty

Edward R. Block, M.D. Distinguished Professor Chairman, Department of Medicine PO Box 100277 1600 SW Archer Rd Gainesville, FL 32610 Office: 352.265.0655 Fax:352.265.1107 Email: blocker@medicine.ufl.edu

Research Focus:

Pulmonary Endothelial Cell Injury in relationship to hypoxic states
Nitric Oxide production by endothelial cells during hypoxia.

Dr. Edward Block is interested in the pathobiology of the pulmonary endothelium. In particular, he is interested in: 1) defining the mechanisms responsible for the pulmonary endothelial cell injury that initiates the cascade of events leading to the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 2) delineating repair and potential protective mechanisms that may hasten recovery or prevent endothelial cell injury associated with ARDS. To address these basic mechanisms of cellular injury and repair, Dr. Block utilizes an in vitro endothelial cell culture system that allows for careful and precise assessment of the responses of lung endothelial cells to injuries that are known to cause ARDS in humans, e.g., high and low partial pressures of 02, endotoxin, hydrogen peroxide (a product of neutrophils), and nitrogen dioxide, a nitrogen centered free radical air pollutant. Work done during the past several years in Dr. Block's laboratory has clearly demonstrated that the plasma membrane of lung endothelial cells is a critical, early target in a variety of injuries known to damage endothelial cells in vitro and to lead to ARDS. Alterations in the physical state and composition of the lipids within the endothelial cell plasma membrane bilayer are responsible for derangements in endothelial cell structure and function including disturbances in endothelial barrier function, transport of macromolecules, signal transduction, hemostasis, and metabolism. Major efforts currently underway include examining the effects of lung injury on the production of nitric oxide by endothelial cells in an effort to understand the mechanisms of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and the pulmonary hypertension that accompanies ARDS, and defining the physiological factors that regulate transport and metabolism of L-arginine, the precursor for nitric oxide, by lung endothelial cells. Dr. Block conducts his research activities in a fully-equipped 1,200 square foot laboratory at the Malcom Randal Veterans Affairs Medical Center where he is also Associate Chief of Staff for Research. He is ably assisted by postdoctoral fellows and trained technicians and collaborates closely with a variety of University of Florida scientists including Dr. Jawaharlal Patel of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine. Dr. Block's research activities have been supported since 1976 by the National Institutes of Health and since 1978 by the Medical Research Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is the recipient of a NIH M.E.R.I.T. Award (1998-2008) and is the 1999 Middleton Awardee of the Medical Research Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs.