Irina Petrache, MD
Irina Petrache, MD
Principal Investigator, Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
Education and Training
- 1982 – 1986, Dr. I. Mesota Lyceum, Brasov, Romania. Major: Mathematics and Physics. Degree: Baccalaureate
- 1986 – 1992, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. Degree: Doctor of Medicine, MD
- 1993 – 1996, Saint Luke’s Medical Center (since, residency program transferred to Saint Vincent Medical Center), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine
- 1996 – 2000, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Research and Clinical Fellowship in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Research
Background
Dr. Irina Petrache is chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and associate vice president of faculty development at National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, where she is professor of medicine who holds the Wollowick Endowed Chair in COPD Research. She is also professor of medicine at the University of Colorado, where she co-directs the T32 Training Program in Pulmonary Sciences.
Dr. Petrache received several awards for her academic activities, including the Elizabeth Rich Award; The Golden Lung Award for excellence in teaching; Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award; Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor’s Prestigious External Award Recognition and the Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award.
Dr. Petrache held faculty positions as assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University and associate professor and then tenured professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where she served as Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine.
The Petrache laboratory at National Jewish Health is focused on the pathogenesis of emphysema and pulmonary vascular remodeling in COPD, as well as distal lung injury and repair in response to vaping, cigarette smoking, and acute viral infections.
Joanna Poczobutt, PhD
Associate Professor
Education
University of Gdansk (Poland), MS
University of Colorado, Aschutz Medical Campus, PhD
Background
I joined Dr. Petrache lab in 2019. As a research instructor, I coordinate multiple projects, with particular focus on the role of sphingolipid pathway in development of lung injury and lung diseases caused by cigarette smoke exposure, such as COPD.
Matthew Justice, PhD
Senior Researcher, Lab Manager
justicem@NJHealth.org
Education
2006, Indiana University, Bachelor of Science, Physics
2009, Purdue University, Master of Science, Physics
2013, Indiana University, Master of Science, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
2017, Indiana University, PhD, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Background
I am a sphingolipid biologist/biochemist interested in how sphingolipid metabolism goes awry in disease. During my Physics degrees, I studied how the incorporation of ceramide into a membrane, changes membrane-membrane interactions during efferocytosis. During my biochemistry & molecular biology degrees, I studied the role of acid sphingomyelinase in autophagy. Currently, I am investigating the role of tetraspanins in emphysema.
Katie Kopf, DVM,MS, DACLAM
Assistant Professor, Veterinarian
kopfk@NJHealth.org
Education
Miami University, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Bachelor of Arts, Zoology
Shippensburg University, Masters of Science, Biology
Virginia Tech, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Background
I am a board-certified laboratory animal veterinarian who has been working with Dr. Petrache since 2017. At National Jewish Health, I head up an Animal Physiology Core where I collaborate with multiple investigators using animal models and also help take care of the research animals. I pride myself in being a “jack of all trades” and enjoy solving complex problems. I’m especially experienced in animal anesthesia, surgery, and micro-CT scanning. For Dr. Petrache, I am currently working on lung injury animal models. Outside of work, I enjoy tinkering with broken antiques, petting cats & dogs, and spending time with my family.
Tsering Palmo, PhD
Research Associate
Education
PhD in Biotechnology from CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology and Jamia Hamdard, Delhi, India.
Background
My name is Tsering Palmo, and I hold a Ph.D. in the genetics of high altitude adaptation and maladaptation. Currently, as a research associate in the Petrache-Lahm lab, I focus on understanding the pathogenesis of COPD-PH and developing effective treatment regimens. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, exploring nature through walks, and spending quality time with my favorite people.
Ali Mousavi Aghdas, MD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Education
2021, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Doctor of Medicine
Background
Since the medical school, it has long been my hope to pursue a bench-to-bedside approach in lung diseases. Previously, I participated in critical care and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension research. As an aspiring physician-scientist, I joined Dr. Petrache’s lab to further develop my skills and experience in the investigation of the molecular pathogenesis of respiratory conditions. The influence of plasma membrane lipid components and especially, ceramides in the lung epithelial and endothelial cells is of particular interest to me. I enjoy reading history books and listening to music and podcasts in my leisure time.
Betty Dubois, MS
Senior Lab Researcher
DUBOISB@NJHealth.org
Education
2019, University of Lille (France), Master of Biotechnology
Background
Coming from France, I studied the Biotechnology at the University of Lille. I started working in a biotech company specialized into rare diseases, but I wanted to discover the academic research. I am now continuing my career in pulmonary disease. I am specialized in cellular and molecular biology and want to pursue in this field.
Tanner Rivera, MS
Lab Researcher
Education
2022, University of Denver, P.S.M.
2021, Drury University, B.S.
Background
I studied Biochemistry at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, working in basic organic chemistry research then received my Professional Science Masters in Biomedical Sciences from University of Denver in 2022 where I got the chance to work with Dr. Petrache for my capstone project. Dr. Petrache gave me the opportunity to join her lab and research more into effects of e-cigarettes. I hope to attend medical school in the future to continue studying medicine.
Max Hiltabidle, BA
Lab Researcher
Education
2018, University of Colorado Boulder, Bachelor of Arts, Integrative Physiology
Background
I am a graduate of CU Boulder with a BA in Integrative Physiology. Having spent the last four years developing my skills in academic research with a focus on developmental biology, I look to use this knowledge to dive deeper into the pulmonary science of the Petrache lab. Outside of science and work I have a passion for music, travel, and all of the activities Colorado has to offer.
Courtney Moeder, BS
Student Researcher
Education
2024, University of Colorado Denver, Bachelor of Science, Biology
Background
With a love of Science and a passion for learning, I spent my undergraduate years diving into the field of biology, with a focus in biochemistry. During my education, I worked extensively with stem cells and mast cells in the setting of immuno-toxicology research. I am now gaining insight into the pulmonary research field here in the Petrache Lab. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones and reading all types of books.