Steve N. Georas

Steve N. Georas, M.D., is a Professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) in the School of Medicine and Dentistry, with primary appointments in the Department of Medicine (Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care), and joint appointments in Environmental Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology. He is a board-certified specialist in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, actively practicing at the Mary Parkes Center for Asthma, Allergy & Pulmonary Care, and serving as an attending physician in the Medical Intensive Care Units at Strong Memorial and Highland Hospitals.

His research is centered on the immunological mechanisms of asthma and lung inflammation. Key areas include epithelial barrier dysfunction, type 2 immune responses, the role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and autotaxin, and the impact of air pollution and environmental exposures on lung health. He leads the Study of Asthma in Rochester (SOAR2) and is involved in the national PrecISE asthma network.

His recent publications highlight a strong focus on asthma pathogenesis, the use and de-escalation of biologic therapies, the effects of environmental factors like air pollution and climate change on asthma, and the critical issue of race-based interpretation of pulmonary function tests, advocating for more equitable diagnostic practices. His work spans basic science, translational research, and clinical trials.

Scientific Awards:

• Walter & Carmina Mary Parkes Family Distinguished Professorship

Research and Mentoring: Dr. Georas directs an active research laboratory investigating immune cell activation in the lung. He mentors postdoctoral fellows (Maggie Connolly, Patrick Donohue), research staff (Kyle Norton), and graduate students (Traci Pressley). His lab is involved in multiple clinical trials and has received significant grant funding for research on lung disease and environmental health.

Research Lab: The Georas Lab at URMC is dedicated to understanding airway inflammation and lung function in asthma, with specific projects on epithelial barrier dysfunction, airway oscillometry, and the implications of race in pulmonary function testing.