Dr. Tesfaigzi is a member of the faculty in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Tesfaigzi graduated in Molecular Biology from the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, in Germany and completed his fellowship in cell and molecular biology at University of California, Davis.  Over the past two decades, the Tesfaigzi laboratory has contributed to the identification of genes and biochemical interactions of proteins that are responsible for maintaining a constant number of cells in airway epithelia.  Based on mechanistic studies, peptides and small molecules have been discovered that are highly effective in reducing mucus-producing cells in animal models of chronic bronchitis and asthmatic bronchitis.  Current efforts are to test these drugs in patients with these debilitating diseases.  Dr. Tesfaigzi is author of over 140 original research publications; has served on grant review panels for more than 10 different organizations, including several branches of the NIH.