Focus of Research

The El Agha lab focuses on applying developmental paradigms to understand normal lung homeostasis and regeneration, particularly in regard to lung remodeling and reverse remodeling in response to pathogen-induced lung injury and repair. The scientific investigations involve the use of basic and translational approaches to interrogate key signaling pathways, growth factors and other signaling mediators that are also important for normal lung development.

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions graphic

For more details, please refer to the following page:

Prof. Elie El Agha, PhD
Prof. Elie El Agha, PhD

Lab Members

PostDocs

Vahid Kheirollahi, PhD
Vahid Kheirollahi, PhD
Project description: In this project, we are focusing on how the mesenchymal compartment is mobilized after Influenza A virus-induced lung injury. Of interest is understanding the mesenchymal-immune axis and deciphering cell-cell communication in the subsequent damage repair process.
Ali Khadim, Ph.D.
Ali Khadim, Ph.D.
Project description: This project aims to study mesenchymal lineage formation throughout the life span of the mammalian lung and the involvement of developmental mechanisms in lung homeostasis, repair and regeneration.

Ph.D. candidates

Sukanya Bhat, M.Sc.
Sukanya Bhat, M.Sc.
Project description: We aim to deconvolute, spatially map, and characterize our recently identified “Repair-Supportive Mesenchymal Cells” (RSMCs) emerging in response to naphthalene-induced airway injury and regeneration.

Technical Assistant

Hannah Hofmann, M.Sc.
Hannah Hofmann, M.Sc.

M.D. Student

Jan Halweg

Project Coordinator

Sezin Czarnecki, Ph.D.
Sezin Czarnecki, Ph.D.

Alumni

Felix Schwind, M.D.
Alena Moiseenko, Ph.D.
Xuran Chu, Ph.D.
Laith Salama
Tanya Malik, M.Sc.
Hawlader Sabbir Hasan, M.Sc.

Contact information
Elie El Agha, Ph.D.

Professor for Pathogen-Induced Lung Injury and Repair at the Institute for Lung Health (ILH)
Director of the international graduate program Molecular Biology and Medicine of the Lung (MBML)
Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI)
German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)
Justus-Liebig University Giessen

Featured Publications

See all publications on PubMed:

  • Myofibroblasts emerge during alveolar regeneration following influenza-virus-induced lung injury

    25. February 2025

    Cell Rep. Khadim A, Kiliaris G, Vazquez-Armendariz AI, Procida-Kowalski T, Glaser D, Bartkuhn M, Malik […]

  • Evidence for a lipofibroblast-to- Cthrc1 + myofibroblast reversible switch during the development and resolution of lung fibrosis in young mice

    10. October 2024

    Eur Respir J. Lingampally A, Truchi M, Mauduit O, Delcroix V, Vasquez-Pacheco E, Gautier-Isola M, […]

  • GLI1+ Cells Contribute to Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension

    24. May 2024

    Circ Res. Chu X, Kheirollahi V, Lingampally A, Chelladurai P, Valasarajan C, Vazquez-Armendariz AI, Hadzic […]

  • The lung mesenchyme in development, regeneration, and fibrosis

    17. July 2023

    J Clin Invest. El Agha E, Thannickal VJ. The lung mesenchyme in development, regeneration, and […]

  • Identification of a Repair-Supportive Mesenchymal Cell Population during Airway Epithelial Regeneration

    22. December 2020

    Cell Rep. Moiseenko A, Vazquez-Armendariz AI, Kheirollahi V, Chu X, Tata A, Rivetti S, Günther […]

  • Metformin induces lipogenic differentiation in myofibroblasts to reverse lung fibrosis

    5. July 2019

    Nat Commun. Kheirollahi V, Wasnick RM, Biasin V, Vazquez-Armendariz AI, Chu X, Moiseenko A, Weiss […]

  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Fibrotic Disease

    3. August 2017

    Cell Stem Cell. El Agha E, Kramann R, Schneider RK, Li X, Seeger W, Humphreys […]

  • Two-Way Conversion between Lipogenic and Myogenic Fibroblastic Phenotypes Marks the Progression and Resolution of Lung Fibrosis

    17. November 2016

    Cell Stem Cell. El Agha E, Moiseenko A, Kheirollahi V, De Langhe S, Crnkovic S, […]

  • Fgf10-positive cells represent a progenitor cell population during lung development and postnatally

    15. January 2014

    Development. El Agha E, Herold S, Al Alam D, Quantius J, MacKenzie B, Carraro […]

Funding & Cooperation Partners

El Agha Lab is always open for collaborations with partners from academia, industry, and the public sector. We are interested in translating our research findings into practice and jointly developing innovative solutions. Funding is a crucial part of our work, enabling us to conduct our research at the highest level. Therefore, we appreciate any contribution that supports us in achieving our goals. Please feel free to contact us for more information.