Umadevi Sajjan

Umadevi Sajjan, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Temple University's Lewis Katz School of Medicine with appointments in Microbiology, Immunology and Inflammation; Thoracic Medicine and Surgery; and Biomedical Education and Data Science. Her research centers on airway epithelial cell biology and innate immune dysfunction in chronic respiratory diseases including COPD and cystic fibrosis.

Dr. Sajjan's educational background includes:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biochemistry at Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
• PhD in Biochemistry from Central Food Technological Research Institute, University of Mysore, India
• MSc in Biochemistry from Karnatak University, India
• BSc in Chemistry, Botany and Zoology from University of Mysore, India

Her laboratory investigates defective airway epithelial regeneration mechanisms in COPD that increase susceptibility to respiratory infections like rhinovirus. Key research areas include quercetin's anti-inflammatory effects on COPD airways and nitric oxide's role in disrupting bacterial biofilms in cystic fibrosis. Current projects focus on translating these findings into clinical applications through active therapeutic trials.

Publications from 2008-2014 demonstrate consistent expertise in airway epithelium biology, with evolving emphasis from viral pathogenesis to regenerative mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Recent work bridges basic science with clinical translation, particularly in quercetin supplementation and nitric oxide therapy.

No specific scientific awards are documented in the provided materials, though her research is recognized through sustained publication output and institutional affiliations.

Dr. Sajjan leads a phase II clinical trial examining quercetin's impact on inflammation markers in COPD patients, using generated samples to elucidate molecular mechanisms. Her laboratory concurrently tests low-dose nitric oxide combined with antibiotics for eradicating bacterial biofilms in cystic fibrosis, representing significant translational grant-supported work.

She directs a research team within Temple's Center for Inflammation and Lung Research, focusing on epithelial repair mechanisms and innate immunity. Collaborations span clinicians and scientists across pulmonary medicine, microbiology, and immunology disciplines to advance therapeutic strategies for chronic lung diseases.