Zuo, Yi PhD
Pilot Project PI
Emerging Investigator - Respiratory
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
University of Hawaii Manoa 808.956.9650
Research Overview
Selected Publications/PresentationsBioengineering Research Symposium, February 16, 2012, Pulmonary Administration of Cortcosteroids Using Lung Surfactant at a Delivering Vehicle, PowerPoint Presentation by Yi Zuo and Charles R. Neal. 
Honors & AwardsDr. Zuo’s RMATRIX Pilot Project was mentioned in the University of Hawaii Manoa Chancellor’s Report 2011-2012. 
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2011-2012 RMATRIX Collaboration Pilot Projects Program AwardsProject Description
| Title: |
|
Effect of Corticosteroids on Pulmonary Surfactant of Premature Newborns |
| Principal Investigator: |
|
Yi Zuo, PhD, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, UH College of Engineering |
| Co-Principal Investigator: |
|
Charles R. Neal, Jr., MD, PhD, Dept. of Pediatrics, UH JABSOM |
| RMATRIX HEALTH Initiative(s): |
|
Respiratory; Perinatal, Growth & Developmental Health |
| RMATRIX Key Function Support: |
|
Participant & Clinical Resources Support, Research Design & Biostatistics Support |
| RMATRIX Funding: |
|
$29,257 |
| External Link: |
|
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~yzuo/ |
AbstractEffect of Corticosteroids on Pulmonary Surfactant of Premature Newborns Chronic lung disease (CLD), also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, is a common complication of premature birth. Premature birth in Hawaii has shown distinct ethnic disparities, with a significantly higher incidence for Native Hawaiians and Asians. Due to concerns of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with systemic administration of corticosteroids in treatment of premature newborns with or at high risk for CLD, research validating the effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids in reducing the incidence of CLD, and thereby increasing or standardizing their use, could reduce morbidity and mortality in this population. Despite the low risk-benefit ratio inhaled corticosteroids offer, it is still controversial whether inhaled corticosteroids can reduce the incidence of CLD. The mechanism by which the inhaled corticosteroids may confer respiratory benefit is still unclear and the clinical practice of inhaled corticosteroid therapy has not been standardized and optimized. The specific aims of this proposal are to (1) develop a practical clinical procedure of extracting pulmonary surfactant from tracheal aspirates of ventilated neonates with or at high risk for CLD and create a bank of pulmonary surfactant samples that reflects the ethnic disparity of premature birth in Hawaii; (2) conduct detailed biochemical and biophysical characterization of these newborn surfactant samples using an interdisciplinary approach and relate this knowledge to the potential pathophysiology of premature birth; and (3) study the mechanism of interaction between the newborn surfactant and corticosteroid drugs and translate this fundamental knowledge into clinical practice of improving efficacy and safety of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in prevention and management of CLD in premature newborns. The proposed study is expected to reveal the in vitro effect of corticosteroids on the pulmonary surfactant of premature newborns with an interdisciplinary approach. This fundamental research has the potential to be translated into clinical practice improving efficacy and safety of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in prevention and management of CLD in premature newborns. It also has implications to the study of inhalation therapy for treating asthma and COPD, and to the development of intratracheal administration of corticosteroids using exogenous surfactants as a delivering vehicle.
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