BBS Faculty Member - Charles Serhan

Charles Serhan

Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity, HSDM

Brigham and Women's Hospital
HIM Building, Room 829
77 Avenue Louis Pasteur
Boston, MA 02115
Tel: 617-525-5001
Fax: 617-525-5017
Email: cnserhan@zeus.bwh.harvard.edu
Lab Members: 8 postdoctoral fellows, 1 assistant professor, 1 instructor
Visit my lab page here.



Research in the Serhan laboratory focuses on structural elucidation of bioactive small molecules that activate the resolution of acute inflammation. Our overall mission is “To identify novel mediators, pathways, and cellular targets critical in promoting resolution of inflammation and reperfusion tissue injury and their relation to human disease.” Our studies currently focus on structural elucidation of novel molecules and pathways that serve as pro-resolving and/or endogenous anti-inflammatory chemical signals.

We elucidated several new families of lipid-derived, local-acting chemical mediators, coined the Resolvins and Protectins, and most recently Maresins, that stimulate resolution of inflammatory responses. We also designed novel therapeutic approaches using these structures as biotemplates. New therapeutic approaches built with the knowledge of these signaling pathways could be more potent, selective and better tolerated since they are based on structures naturally evolved in these processes. Several of these new designer therapeutics have already been shown to be effective in human disease.



Last Update: 6/18/2014



Publications

For a complete listing of publications click here.

 

 

Chiang N, Fredman G, Bäckhed F, Oh SF, Vickery T, Schmidt BA, Serhan CN. Infection regulates pro-resolving mediators that lower antibiotic requirements. Nature 2012; 484:524-28.

Li Y, Dalli J, Chiang N, Baron RM, Quintana C, Serhan CN. Plasticity of leukocytic exudates in resolving acute inflammation is regulated by microRNA and pro-resolving mediators. Immunity 2013; 39:885-98.

Mirakaj V, Dalli J, Granja T, Rosenberger P, Serhan CN. Vagus nerve controls resolution and pro-resolving mediators of inflammation. J Exp Med. 2014; 211:1037-48.

Serhan CN. Pro-resolving lipid mediators are leads for resolution physiology. Nature 2014; 510:92-101.



© 2014 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College