Luai Huleihel, PhD

Dr. Luai Huleihel is an industry-affiliated faculty member at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Also, he serves as a Principal Scientist at ACell,^® Inc. Dr. Huleihel received his BS, MS, and PhD from Ben-Gurion University – Israel. He conducted his research training at the University of Pittsburgh and Yale University, completing his research in 2014. During the course of his research training, Dr. Huleihel studied the involvement of miRNAs and hMSCs in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. His post-doctoral training was done at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine in the laboratory of deputy director Stephen Badylak, DVM, PhD, MD. Dr. Huleihel is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of ECM-induced constructive remodeling, specifically in examining the role of miRNAs, exosomes and MBVs involvement in the remodeling response and the effect on macrophage activation. He is also investigating the direct effect of ECM on macrophage activation with the extended goal of identifying molecular targets to bias activation. Dr. Huleihel is a journal reviewer for the following publications:  AJP – Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology Journal, Journal of Stem Cells Research, Reviews & Reports, and the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Dr. Huleihel received the SPRIG Scholar’s Pilot Project Award in 2016. View a list of Dr. Huleihel’s publications here.