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Mary Elizabeth Anne Sunday

Professor of Pathology
Pathology
Duke Box 3712, Durham, NC 27710
Davison Bldg., 2nd Floor, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Oxygen (O2) is essential for life, but excessive oxygen causes tissue injury, scarring, aging, and death. We are studying mechanisms of injury mediated by O2-sensing pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, especially gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). GRP secretion is induced by O2-related (oxidant) injury, leading to acute and chronic lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Our key model is PF due to ionizing radiation to the thorax. This is clinically relevant to PF triggered by many environmental exposures or autoimmune diseases, as well as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). There is no cure for PF. We seek to reverse fibrotic responses in lung.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Pathology · 2004 - Present Pathology, Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Medicine · 2004 - Present Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine
Professor in Cell Biology · 2004 - Present Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments
Professor in Pediatrics · 2010 - Present Pediatrics, Clinical Science Departments

Education, Training & Certifications


Harvard University · 1982 M.D.
Harvard University · 1982 Ph.D.
University of Toronto (Canada) · 1976 B.S.