Eugene Chang

Eugene Chang

Associate Professor, Otolaryngology
Vice Chair, Academic Affairs - Otolaryngology
Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences
Associate Professor, Neurosurgery
Member of the Graduate Faculty
Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute
Primary Department
Department Affiliations
Contact
(520) 626-6673

Research Interest

Dr. Chang’s research is divided into three areas.Cystic fibrosis (CF) research: Dr. Chang is investigating the role of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene in the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis. He published the first animal model of CF sinus disease, and has characterized novel therapies including gene therapy vectors and CFTR potentiators in improving CF sinus disease in both animals and humans.Sinus microbiome research: the “microbiome” is the microbial community that is present in the human body. The sinonasal cavities have traditionally been thought to be sterile cavities, but new research is beginning to elucidate the vast number of microbial communities that populate our sinus. With this knowledge, we are investigating how our current therapies can influence this microbial population and prevent sinus disease.Impact of the upper and lower airway: as otolaryngologists, our focus has been in the airway of the head and neck. Dr. Chang has been investigating how the upper airway can influence disease of the lower airway, and vice versa. This research can influence the understanding of common diseases of the lower airway, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Dr. Chang receives active funding research support from the NIH, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Publications

Chang, E. H., Tang, X. X., Shah, V. S., Launspach, J. L., Ernst, S. E., Hilkin, B., Karp, P. H., Abou Alaiwa, M. H., Graham, S. M., Hornick, D. B., Welsh, M. J., Stoltz, D. A., & Zabner, J. (2015). Medical reversal of chronic sinusitis in a cystic fibrosis patient with ivacaftor. International forum of allergy & rhinology, 5(2), 178-81.

Chronic sinusitis is universal in cystic fibrosis (CF) and our current treatments are ineffective in reversing sinus disease. The objective of this work was to determine if increasing CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity by ivacaftor could treat CF sinus disease and assess its effect on primary sinus epithelial cultures.

Palejwala, S. K., Sharma, S., Le, C. H., Chang, E., & Lemole, G. M. (2017). Complications of advanced kadish stage esthesioneuroblastoma: single institution experience and literature review. Cureus, 9(5):1245.
Barry, J. Y., Le, C. H., Baumann, J., Skinker, L., Chiu, A. G., & Chang, E. (2016). Endoscopic resection of maxillary sinus keratocystic odontogenic tumors. Laryngoscope. doi:10.1002/lary.25920
Potter, N. J., Graham, S. M., Chang, E., & Greenlee, J. D. (2015). Bioabsorbable plate cranial base reconstruction. Laryngoscope. doi:10.1002/lary.24991
Noutsios, G. T., Willis, A. L., Ledford, J. G., & Chang, E. (2017). Novel role of surfactant protein A in bacterial sinusitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol.
BIO5 Collaborators
Eugene Chang, Julie Ledford