• IM/Pulmonary Medicine

The research interests of Michael I. Lewis, MD, are in pulmonary hypertension, and respiratory and limb muscle cell biology. Dr. Lewis has been involved with the diagnosis and management of patients with pulmonary hypertension for more than 25 years. His basic science interests in this area cover the use of animal models of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). He is evaluating the pathobiology of right ventricular responses to the increased afterload facing the right ventricle due to PAH. He has also investigated the use of cardiosphere-derived stem cells (CDCs) in attenuating the effects of established PAH in a rescue model with good efficacy in the animal model. Currently, he is investigating microvesicle products of the stem cells, exosomes, in mirroring the effects of the stem cells. The data have prompted a pre-IND (investigational new drug) review, and to follow, an IND review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to test CDCs in a phase 1 clinical study in patients with PAH. Dr. Lewis is also involved in 12 clinical trials in patients with PAH, and is actively involved in patient management at our pulmonary hypertension center and in hospitalized patients. For his research interest in respiratory and limb muscle cell biology, Dr. Lewis has most recently looked into administering exosomes to ameliorate the effects of Duchenne muscular dystrophy on the diaphragm and limb muscles in the mouse model. Data to be tested include physiologic, morphometric, biochemical and cell biologic influences on the muscle groups. Other basic research includes the effects of emphysema on diaphragm structure and function, the effects of undernutrition on respiratory muscles, hormonal and pharmacologic influences on respiratory muscles, diaphragm development, and mechanisms responsible for these influences.

• Medical School: University of Witwatersrand, 1974
• Internship: Johannesburg General Hospital, 1975
• Residency: Johannesburg General Hospital, 1981

• Lung Institute (Women's Guild Lung Institute)
• Lung Transplant
• Pulmonary Vascular Disease
• Department of Medicine
• Comprehensive Transplant Center
• Medicine

• National Quality ForumMember of Pulmonary Technical Advisory Panel, 2009-present
• UCLA Award for Excellence in Education, 2007
• Editorial Board, Journal of Applied Physiology, 1996-2008
• American Lung Association of California, Member Research Fellowship training Grant Review Committee and Chair, 1992-98

• Fournier M, Huang ZS, Li H, Da X, Cercek B, Lewis MI. Insulin-like growth factor I prevents corticosteroid-induced diaphragm muscle atrophy in emphysematous hamsters. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2003;285(1):R34-43.
• Lewis MI, Zhan WZ, Sieck GC. Adaptations of the diaphragm in emphysema. J Appl Physiol. 1992;72(3):934-943.
• Lewis MI, Fournier M, Da X, Li H, Mosenifar Z, McKenna RJ, Cohen AH: Short-term influences of lung volume reduction surgery on the diaphragm in emphysematous hamsters. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;170(7):753-759.