Ronald Panganiban, PhD

The Panganiban Lab investigates the mechanisms underlying the gene-environment interplay in allergic diseases such as asthma and atopic dermatitis, which are public health concerns affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. While their symptoms can be controlled, there is no cure for asthma and atopic dermatitis. Understanding the molecular basis of these diseases can lead to the development of better therapeutic strategies.

I was born and raised in a small rural village in the Philippines. I had many interests as a child, but I have dreamed of becoming a scientist for as long as I can remember. Although I cannot recall what specifically fueled my passion for science, I was fascinated with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and genes and the concept of mutations causing abnormalities and diseases. This made me take up molecular biology and biotechnology as my undergraduate major at the University of the Philippines, where I was first exposed to scientific research through my bachelor’s thesis work. Following a brief stint at medical school, I realized that research was my passion, and I took a leap of faith, leaving my home country to pursue graduate studies in the United States.

During my PhD dissertation at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Bethesda, MD), I studied the molecular mechanisms of radiation-induced cell death in primary lung cells. My research led to the discovery that the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor signaling is involved in radiation-induced accelerated senescence, a cellular process implicated in the development of many diseases. I then furthered my training as a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (Boston, MA), where I led studies that identified suppressors of arsenic-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and associated apoptosis, uncovered a surprising function of cholecystokinin in airway smooth muscle contraction and obesity-associated asthma, and characterized the biochemical activity of the long-suspected asthma gene, GSDMB. My work has resulted in an awarded patent and publications in various reputable journals.

The research activities in our lab are primarily focused on elucidating the functional role of gasdermins and pyroptosis in asthma and allergic disease. Our research is aided by classical and modern techniques in molecular and cell biology, biochemistry and functional genomics. Ultimately, we hope that the findings from our research can open doors for the development of better therapeutic strategies for these diseases.