Richard Nho
Associate Professor
Internal Medicine
Academic information
- Department: Internal Medicine
Research interests
- Extracellular matrix-cell interaction
- Mechanisms of resistance to apoptosis in fibroblasts from patients with IPF
- Targeting of fibrotic fibroblasts
- Anti-fibrotic drug delivery using nanocarriers
- Intercellular communication in lung fibrosis
About
Biography
My research seeks to uncover how idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) fibroblasts maintain an apoptosis-resistant, pathological phenotype within a collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) and to develop strategies to selectively target fibrotic fibroblast subtypes to halt disease progression. IPF, the most common and lethal idiopathic interstitial lung disease, is marked by fibroblast accumulation and deposition of a stiff, collagen-dense ECM. Existing therapies cannot reverse established fibrosis, leaving a critical unmet clinical need.
Using precision-cut lung slices, 3D collagen matrices, and patient-derived decellularized ECMs, we model the fibrotic lung microenvironment under clinically relevant pro-fibrotic conditions, including hypoxia. Our studies identified lactate-mediated signaling via GPR81 as a key driver of fibroblast reprogramming and revealed aberrant upregulation of the transcription factor ZEB1, a regulator of ECM stiffness and apoptosis resistance in IPF fibroblasts, patient tissues, and fibrotic mouse lungs. Importantly, targeting lactate shuttling and ZEB1 significantly reduces lung fibrosis in vivo.
These findings establish a foundation for fibroblast subtype-targeted therapies, including antimiRs, in vivo neutralizing antibodies, and Cy5.5-labeled biodegradable nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery. This work paves the way for mechanistically informed interventions to halt fibrosis and improve outcomes for patients with IPF.
Credentials
Education
- BS
- Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- PhD
- University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Research
Research interests
- Extracellular matrix-cell interaction
- Mechanisms of resistance to apoptosis in fibroblasts from patients with IPF
- Targeting of fibrotic fibroblasts
- Anti-fibrotic drug delivery using nanocarriers
- Intercellular communication in lung fibrosis
Professional activity
- National Institute of Health (NIH) Study section for Small Business Respiratory Sciences, within the Respiratory, Cardiac and Circulatory Sciences (RCCS)
- National Institute of Health (NIH) Study section for Small Business Respiratory Sciences, within the Respiratory, Cardiac and Circulatory Sciences (RCCS-B) 2025
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council New Investigator grant 2025
- Department of Defense (DoD) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program, Study section for pulmonary fibrosis (PF2) 2024
- Worldwide cancer research, UK 2023
- Worldwide cancer research, UK 2022
- National Center for the Replacement & Reduction of Animal in Research 2019
- British Lung Foundation (BLF) Pulmonary Fibrosis Pump-Priming grant 2018
- American Heart Association (AHA), Cell survival and apoptosis study section 2016
- American Heart Association (AHA), Study section for Cell survival and apoptosis 2015 Fall
- American Heart Association (AHA), Study section for Cell survival and apoptosis study section 2015 Spring
- Welcome Trust grant 2013
- Binational Science Foundation (BSF 2011
- National Science Foundation (NSF) 2006
- American Society for Investigative Pathology ambassador 2020-present
- Member of the American Society for Investigating Pathology 2018-present
- Member of the American Thoracic Society 2010-present
- Editorial member, Clinical Research in Pulmonology, SciMed Central 2013-present
Professional memberships
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute 2021- present
- Council Member- Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2007- present
- American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2005- present
- American Stroke Association (ASA) 2007-2009
- American Heart Association (AHA) 2005-2009