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Hawkins Lab
Center for Regenerative Medicine
Boston University and Boston Medical Center
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The Hawkins Lab is interested in how the human lung is maintained and responds to injury. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a unique opportunity to model human lung disease and bridge the gap between research in animal models and humans. Using this iPSC platform we are focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that control cell fate decisions and regenerative programs in the lungs. We hope to apply this knowledge to advance our understanding of and develop precision medicine approaches for lung disease. The lab has a particular focus on the airway epithelium, disease of the airways, and cellular approaches to therapy.
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Highlighted publications:
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2023: Airway regeneration via primary and iPSC derived basal cells in collaboration with the Kotton Lab: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37625411/
2022: iPSC platform for Cystic Fibrosis disease modeling: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31854-8
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Check out or basal cell differentiation protocol here: https://star-protocols.cell.com/protocols/836
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JOVE protocol for working with human iPSC-derived basal cells: https://www.jove.com/v/63882/generation-of-airway-epithelial-cell-airliquid-interface-cultures-from-human-pluripotent-stem-cells
Our 2021 Cell Stem Cell manuscript:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1934590920304926?via%3Dihub
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Team
Finn Hawkins, PI
Finn is a PI in the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) at Boston University and Boston University Medical Center. He is also a Pulmonary and Critical Care attending in the Pulmonary Dept. of Boston University.
Originally from Ireland, Finn moved to the US in 2007 to complete internal medicine residency at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN followed by fellowship in Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at Boston University. During his fellowship he trained in Dr. Darrell Kotton's laboratory at a time when the derivation of lung lineages from iPSCs was in its infancy. This was the driving force that led Finn to pursue better models of human lung disease. Finn is the director of the Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic at. Boston Medical Center.
Andrew Berical, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Andrew is a physician-scientist and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Hawkins lab. His research focuses on functional genomics in the airway epithelium. He utilizes airway epithelial model systems to better understand how specific genes impact the lung in health as well as in the initiation of disease states such as Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, Cystic Fibrosis and other causes of bronchiectasis. Away from the lab, Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife Kinza, young children Jack and Leona and their dog Clementine. Andrew has been funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Emily's Entourage.
DJ Wallman, MD
Assistant Professor, Pulmonary and Critical Care attending
DJ joined the Hawkins Lab in 2021 and is working on gene-editing of iPSC-derived basal cells to study primary ciliary dyskinesia. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time with new sons Mack and Jett, wife Kelly and dog Indiana while sneaking in soccer games and gardening when time permits
Sachiko Homma Takayama, PhD
Lab manager
Sachi joined the Hawkins Lab in 2024.
Mylène Gorzynski
Mylène is an MD PhD candidate and joined the Hawkins Lab in 2024
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Henry Sun
Henry is a PhD candidate and joined the Hawkins Lab in 2024
Hassan Vora
Hassan joined the Hawkins Lab in 2024 and is working on gene-editing of iPSC-derived basal cells to study airway diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing basketball, exercising, and exploring new restaurants around Boston.
Alumni
-Mary Lou Beermann:
-Anat Kohn, MD PhD: Pulmonary and Critical Care attending UPMC
-Gabrielle Cherfane, MD candidate
-Dylan Thomas MD, Orthopedic residency, University of Minnesota
