Kenichi Okuda

The paper identifies region-specific molecular regulatory programs in human distal airways that maintain epithelial identity and mucus homeostasis, revealing mechanisms for mucociliary defense.

This study examines SARS-CoV-2 infection and repair responses in human airway epithelial cells, finding prolonged and incomplete repair linked to long-COVID pulmonary symptoms.

This study identifies airway epithelial host defense defects caused by STAT3 mutations in Hyper IgE Syndrome, contributing to chronic pulmonary infection.

This study uses multi-omics analysis to show that dysregulated lung epithelial cell homeostasis and immune responses drive severe MERS-CoV disease in mice.

This study develops methods to culture human and animal airway explants for at least 14 days, preserving tissue architecture and enabling study of health, disease, and viral infection.

The paper uses CRISPR screens to identify mucins as key host factors that restrict SARS-CoV-2 infection in human lung cells.