Current Research:

Dr. Empey’s research interests include evaluation of pulmonary immunity in immune compromised patient populations and manipulating impaired immune responses to improve outcomes of pulmonary infections. Neonates and infants are considered immune compromised due to the immaturity of their pulmonary immune system and are of particular interest in this lab. Currently, research in the Empey lab is focused on evaluating the use of inhaled immune modulating agents to improve immediate and long-term outcomes in infants infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Ongoing research includes the use of an RSV-infected infant mouse model to study the effects of various inhaled immune-stimulating agents to improve disease and reduce the subsequent development of airway hyperreactivity (AHR). It is the long range goal of this laboratory to understand the role of Th1- and Th2-type responses and the role of alveolar macrophages in the airways of RSV-infected infants and to manipulate this response to reduce the risk of developing AHR as older children. The research in Dr. Empey’s lab utilizes a wide array of analytical methods to evaluate changes in immune response including, but not limited to: flow cytometry, Luminex, ELISA, Western Blotting, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. Studies involving animal models are used to study the mechanics involved in the impaired infant immune response to RSV as well as the safety and efficacy of our experimental inhaled immune modulators. The clinical relevance of the information gathered from our animal studies will be addressed by collecting and evaluating clinical patient samples.

Bio:

Dr. Empey graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a PharmD degree in 1999. To pursue her interest in infectious diseases, she pursued clinical training at the University of Kentucky with two years of residency in pharmacy practice and infectious diseases. Based on her interest in research and clinical trials which she was exposed to during her residency training, Dr. Empey continued her research training at the University Of Kentucky College Of Pharmacy by pursuing a PhD in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences. After completing her PhD degree in 2007, she accepted a position at the University of Pittsburgh as a faculty member in the Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics. She now holds a joint appointment in the Clinical Translational Science Institute and is pursuing a career in clinical translational research.