Parviz Minoo, PhD is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, where he also serves as Director of the USC Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research. His research focuses on pulmonary development and disease, with particular emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying lung morphogenesis and alveolar development. Dr. Minoo's research interests center on pulmonary biology with a focus on lung development, alveologenesis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. His work investigates the complex signaling pathways involved in lung formation, including Wnt, FGF, TGF-β, and Hedgehog signaling networks. He has made significant contributions to understanding how transcription factors like NKX21 regulate lung epithelial cell differentiation and how growth factors such as FGF10 drive alveolar formation. His research bridges basic developmental biology with clinical applications for neonatal respiratory disorders. Analysis of Dr. Minoo's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the molecular mechanisms of alveologenesis and lung regeneration. His work demonstrates how specific signaling pathways (Wnt5a, FGF10, Hedgehog) interact with transcription factors (NKX21, FOXO1) to regulate alveolar cell differentiation. The research spans from fundamental developmental biology to potential therapeutic applications for bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary fibrosis, with increasing attention to cellular plasticity, progenitor cell niches, and the role of the extracellular matrix in lung development. As Director of the USC Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research, Dr. Minoo oversees a multidisciplinary team investigating lung development, injury, and repair mechanisms. His laboratory employs sophisticated mouse models, organoid cultures, and molecular techniques to unravel the complexities of pulmonary biology. The center serves as a hub for collaborative research connecting basic science with clinical applications in neonatal and pediatric pulmonary medicine.
