James S. Hagood

James S. Hagood, MD is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pulmonology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine. He serves as Director of the Program for Rare and Interstitial Lung Disease at both the Children's Research Institute and Marsico Lung Institute. Dr. Hagood is affiliated with UNC Health and practices in Pediatric Pulmonology, with a clinical focus on rare lung diseases and childhood interstitial lung disease.

Dr. Hagood received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1983-1987). He completed his residency and chief residency in Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (1987-1991), followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (1991-1994). He is board certified in Pediatrics-Pediatric Pulmonology (2016).

Dr. Hagood's laboratory research focuses on the regulation of fibroblast phenotype in pulmonary fibrosis and lung development. His principal interests include: regulation of Thy-1 expression (a fibrosis suppressor) through transcriptional silencing and vesicular shedding; roles of fibroblast differentiation in lung alveolar development; epigenomic alterations in lung development and fibrogenesis; targeted delivery of antifibrotic therapies; the roles of extracellular vesicles in lung fibrosis progression and resolution; and mechanisms of Thy-1 signaling regulating myofibroblastic adhesion, migration, differentiation and survival. His work bridges molecular biology with clinical applications in pediatric pulmonary medicine.

Analysis of Dr. Hagood's recent publications reveals a strong focus on rare and interstitial lung diseases in children, with particular emphasis on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying pulmonary fibrosis. His work increasingly incorporates advanced genomic and single-cell technologies to understand lung development and disease. There's a clear translational trajectory in his research, moving from basic mechanisms of fibrosis toward potential therapeutic interventions, including antifibrotic drugs like pirfenidone for pediatric patients. His research demonstrates integration of basic science discoveries with clinical applications through initiatives like the US national registry for childhood interstitial lung disease.

Dr. Hagood maintains active leadership in collaborative research networks, including the US national registry for childhood interstitial and diffuse lung disease and participation in the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP). His work connects laboratory findings with patient care for children with rare lung conditions, demonstrating his commitment to advancing both scientific understanding and clinical practice in pediatric pulmonology.