Dr. Pilewski’s research interests mirror his clinical interest and expertise. He directs a research program in epithelial cell biology focused on ion transport and mucin structure and function in normal and Cystic Fibrosis airways, and leads translational research projects focused on development of new therapies for CF and other diseases of mucus obstruction, and identification of biomarkers of disease activity. He is a co-investigator on NIH and CF Foundation sponsored center grants focused on CF, and a co-investigator in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Development Network.
Dr. Pilewski has a longstanding interest in Cystic Fibrosis and other diseases causing bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis. He is Co-director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis program at the Antonio J and Janet Palumbo CF Center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Pilewski’s other focus is lung transplantation, with special interest in patients with suppurative lung diseases like CF. He has been Medical Director of the Lung Transplant Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center since 2004.
- BA, Philosophy, College of the Holy Cross, 1983
- MD, University of Rochester, 1987
- Residency, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 1990
- Fellowship, Pulmonary & Critical Care, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 1991
- Research Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania - Pulmonary Division, 1994
Education & Training
Locke, LW, Myerburg, MM, Weiner, DJ, Markovetz, MR, Parker, RS, Muthukrishnan, A, Weber, L, Czachowski, MR, Lacy, RT, Pilewski, JM, Corcoran, TE. Pseudomonas infection and mucociliary and absorptive clearance in the cystic fibrosis lung. Eur Respir J. 2016; May;47(5): 1392-401.
Morrell, MR, Pilewski, JM. Lung Transplantation for Cystic Fibrosis. Clin Chest Med. 2016; Mar;37(1): 127-38.
Crespo, MM, Bermudez, CA, Dew, MA, Johnson, BA, George, MP, Bhama, J, Morrell, M, D'Cunha, J, Shigemura, N, Richards, TJ, Pilewski, JM. Lung Transplantation in Patients with Scleroderma Compared with Pulmonary Fibrosis: Short and Long-term Outcomes in a Single Institution. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2015; Dec 15
Heidrich, E, Carattino, MD, Hughey, RP, Pilewski, JM, Kleyman, TR, Myerburg, MM. Intracellular Na+ regulates epithelial Na+ channel maturation. J Biol Chem. 2015; May 1;290(18): 11569-77.
Taylor-Cousar, J, Niknian, M, Gilmartin, G, Pilewski, JM, for the VX11-770-901 investigators. Effect of ivacaftor in patients with advanced cystic fibrosis and a G551D-CFTR mutation: Safety and efficacy in an expanded access program in the United States. J Cyst Fibros. 2015; Feb 11: S1569-1993.
Bermudez, CA, Shiose, A, Esper, SA, Shigemura, N, D'Cunha, J, Bhama, JK, Richards, TJ, Arlia, P, Crespo, MM, Pilewski, JM. Outcomes of intraoperative venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation versus cardiopulmonary bypass during lung transplantation. Ann Thorac Surg. 2014; Dec; 98(6): 1936-42.
Markovetz, MR, Corcoran, TE, Locke, LW, Myerburg, MM, Pilewski, JM, Parker, RS. A Physiologically-Motivated Compartment-Based Model of the Effect of Inhaled Hypertonic Saline on Mucociliary Clearance and Liquid Transport in Cystic Fibrosis. PLoS One. 2014; Nov 19;9(11): e111972.
Zemke, AC, Shiva, S, Burns, JL, Moskowitz, SM, Pilewski, JM, Gladwin, MT, Bomberger, JM. Nitrite modulates bacterial antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm formation in association with airway epithelial cells. Free Radic Biol Med. 2014; Sep 16: S0891-5859(14)00402-X.
Locke, LW, Myerburg, MM, Markovetz, MR, Parker, RS, Weber, L, Czachowski, MR, Harding, TJ, Brown, SL, Nero, JA, Pilewski, JM, Corcoran, TE. Quantitative Imaging of Airway Liquid Absorption in Cystic Fibrosis. Eur Resp J. 2014; Apr 17
Corcoran, TE, Thomas, KM, Garoff, S, Tilton, RD, Przybycien, TM, Pilewski, JM. Imaging the post deposition dispersion of an inhaled surfactant aerosol. J Aerosol Medicine Pulm Drug Del. 2012; Mar 6
- Harry Shwachman Clinical Investigator Award, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 1995-1998
- Best Doctors in America, Northeast Edition, 1996
- Best Doctors in America, 1999-2016
- Breath of Life Award, Western Pennsylvania Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2002
- UPMC Award for Commitment and Excellence in Service (ACES), 2013
