REspiratory, Survivorship, Translational Outcomes & Recovery (RESTORE) Lab

The RESTORE Laboratory aims to improve survivorship after critical illness and promote healthy longevity.

We study patients recovering from acute respiratory failure to understand why some individuals regain function while others develop long-term impairments. Our work identifies the biological mechanisms driving post-ICU frailty and targets them to improve recovery.

Our research has identified distinct frailty subtypes in acute respiratory failure survivors. We have also uncovered aging-related plasma biomarkers—including markers of inflammation, neuroendocrine dysfunction, and mitochondrial injury—that may serve as therapeutic targets to enhance post-ICU recovery.

We investigate how inflammation evolves over time in patients with acute ARDS and in survivors, with the goal of identifying key control points for therapeutic intervention.

In parallel, we conduct reverse translational studies with the Bhattacharya Lung Biology Lab to develop airway-delivered cellular therapies designed to reduce and resolve lung inflammation in ARDS.

We participate in multi-center clinical trials, including the IMV-ECLS (PRESSURE) trial (PI: Richard Greendyk), which evaluates precision mechanical ventilation strategies during ECMO for severe ARDS.

Our clinical and epidemiologic research focuses on risk prediction and longitudinal recovery trajectories, with the goal of improving prognostication and guiding personalized care.

We also develop and test interventions to improve the patient experience during critical illness. This includes innovative palliative care approaches, such as chaplain-led, communication board–guided spiritual care for patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Funding

Our work is supported by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Defense, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Richard Greendyk), and the Stony-Wold Foundation (Daniel Yee).

We are also grateful for philanthropic funding from the Byrne-Callahan family.

Collaboration

We collaborate with leading groups across Columbia University Irving Medical Center, including:

• Garcia Precision Medicine and Genetics Pulmonary Fibrosis Lab
• Farber Immunology and Microbiology Lab,
• Bhattacharya Lung Biology Lab
• H. Houston Merritt Neuromuscular Research Center

We also partner with:

• The Outcomes After Critical Illness & Surgery (OACIS), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
• PRACTICAL clinical trials platform, University of Toronto

We welcome collaborations across academia and industry, from basic science to clinical trials, focused on improving outcomes after critical illness.

Mentorship

We support trainees at all stages, from undergraduate students to early-career faculty, including:

• Columbia VP&S medical students (NIH T35-supported research)
• Medical students pursuing a research year (Dean’s Research Fellowship)
• Postdoctoral clinical and research fellows (T32 Lung Biology training grant, NIH loan repayment programs)

RESTORE Lab in the News

• CNN: A chaplain designed a way for ICU patients to request prayers, poetry, and a hand to hold
• Wall Street Journal: A Spiritual Board Brings Comfort to the Critically Ill
• Wall Street Journal: Covid-19’s “Patient Zero” in New York
• NewYork-Presbyterian Advances Podcast: How ECMO Leadership is Driving Improved Survival and Post-ICU Recovery