Julie Ledford, PhD

Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Co-Director, Clinical Translational Sciences Graduate Program
Associate Director of Translational Research, Asthma & Airways Disease Research Center
Professor, Immunobiology
Professor, BIO5 Institute
Professor, Medicine
Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences
Professor, Applied Biosciences GIDP

I am a Professor with tenure in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Arizona. I am also an active member of the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center and the BIO5 Institute and have faculty appointments in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in the Physiological Sciences and in the Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Training program. I serve as co-director of the Lung Research Focus group (RGF2) within the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center. I have over a decade’s worth of experience mentoring and training medical students, graduate students, postdocs and fellows. In addition, I participate as a faculty member and served on the curriculum committee for the Eureka Institute Virtual School, an international certificate program in translational research, and I serve as the leader for the University of Arizona College of Medicine hub. My own translational research investigates obstructive lung disease and dysfunction of innate immunity in Asthma and respiratory infections.  I have led pulmonary function tests with collaborators for the past 10 years and have a strong history of collaborations in the fields of respiratory diseases, lung function and asthma.

Research Interests: 

Julie G. Ledford, PhD, is a Professor of Cellular & Molecular Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a leading researcher in pulmonary biology and translational medicine. Her work focuses on innate immunity, airway epithelial biology, and the development of novel therapeutics for asthma and chronic lung diseases. Dr. Ledford has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and holds multiple patents for innovative treatments targeting respiratory disorders. She serves as Associate Director of Translational Research at the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center and Co-Director of the Clinical Translational Sciences Graduate Program. A recognized leader in her field, Dr. Ledford has received numerous honors, including the Jo Rae Wright Award for Outstanding Science, and is actively involved in mentoring future scientists and advancing translational research through academic and industry partnerships.

 

Molecular Medicine Grad Program: 
Yes

Bibliography

2025

DeVries, A., H. Kimura, N. Kimura, A. Molzahn, V. Pivniouk, J. G. Ledford, M. Numata, H-W. Chu, D. Vercelli, and M. Kraft, "Asthma programs the transcriptional response of human nasal epithelial cells to SARS-CoV-2 Spike-mediated ACE2 engagement.", J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2025 Aug 13. PMID: 40810714
Encinas-Basurto, D., P. Muralidharan, M. D. Saiful Islam, E. L. Vallorz, S. M. Black, M. Kraft, J. G. Ledford, and H. M. Mansour, "Comprehensive physicochemical, biophysical, and characterization of lung surfactant SP-A peptidomimetics.", RSC Pharm, vol. 2, issue 4, pp. 731-748, 2025 Jul 15. PMCID: PMC12053052  PMID: 40342402
Dy, A. Blythe C., N. Voraphani, A. Spangenberg, S. A. Belinsky, M. A. Picchi, E. Melén, I. Kull, A. Simpson, C. Murray, M. Halonen, et al., "Circulating CC16, immune response to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and lung function: a population-based, multi-cohort study.", Respir Med, vol. 240, pp. 108044, 2025 Apr-May. PMCID: PMC12042813  PMID: 40090526
Casanova, N. G., J. D. Herazo-Maya, C. L. Kempf, B. L. Sun, J. H. Song, A. Hernandez, J. Canizales Galaviz, X. Sun, S. M. Camp, J. G. Ledford, et al., "eNAMPT Is a Novel DAMP and Therapeutic Target in Human and Murine Pulmonary Fibrosis.", Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, 2025 Mar 24. PMID: 40126452

2024

Simpson, C. E., J. G. Ledford, and G. Liu, "Application of Metabolomics across the Spectrum of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.", Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, vol. 71, issue 1, pp. 1-9, 2024 Jul. PMCID: PMC11225873  PMID: 38547373
Zhang, H., R. M. Mulqueen, N. Iannuzo, D. O. Farrera, F. Polverino, J. J. Galligan, J. G. Ledford, A. C. Adey, and D. A. Cusanovich, "txci-ATAC-seq: a massive-scale single-cell technique to profile chromatin accessibility.", Genome Biol, vol. 25, issue 1, pp. 78, 2024 Mar 22. PMCID: PMC10958877  PMID: 38519979
Schaunaman, N., D. Cervantes, T. Nichols, M. Numata, J. G. Ledford, M. Kraft, and H. Wei Chu, "Cooperation of immune regulators Tollip and surfactant protein A inhibits influenza A virus infection in mice.", Respir Res, vol. 25, issue 1, pp. 193, 2024 May 03. PMCID: PMC11068576  PMID: 38702733
Tanyaratsrisakul, S., Y. A. Bochkov, V. White, H. Lee, J. Loeffler, J. Everman, A. M. Schiltz, K. L. Freeman, K. L. Hamlington, E. A. Secor, et al., "Surfactant Protein A Inhibits Human Rhinovirus C Binding and Infection of Airway Epithelial Cells from Pediatric Asthma.", Viruses, vol. 16, issue 11, 2024 Oct 30. PMCID: PMC11598966  PMID: 39599822
Li, N. C., N. Iannuzo, S. A. Christenson, P. R. Langlais, M. Kraft, J. G. Ledford, and X. Li, "Investigation of lactotransferrin messenger RNA expression levels as an anti-type 2 asthma biomarker.", J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2024 May 24. PMID: 38797239

2023

Pederson, W. P., L. M. Ellerman, Y. Jin, H. Gu, and J. G. Ledford, "Metabolomic Profiling in Mouse Model of Menopause-Associated Asthma.", Metabolites, vol. 13, issue 4, 2023 Apr 11. PMCID: PMC10145474  PMID: 37110204
Voraphani, N., D. A. Stern, J. G. Ledford, A. L. Spangenberg, J. Zhai, A. L. Wright, W. J. Morgan, M. Kraft, D. L. Sherrill, J. A. Curtin, et al., "Circulating CC16 and Asthma: A Population-Based, Multi-Cohort Study from Early Childhood Through Adult Life.", Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2023 Jul 31. PMID: 37523710
Iannuzo, N., A. Blythe C. Dy, S. Guerra, P. R. Langlais, and J. G. Ledford, "The Impact of CC16 on Pulmonary Epithelial-Driven Host Responses during Infection in Mouse Tracheal Epithelial Cells.", Cells, vol. 12, issue 15, 2023 Aug 01. PMCID: PMC10416898  PMID: 37566063
Tanyaratsrisakul, S., A. Blythe C. Dy, F. Polverino, M. Numata, and J. G. Ledford, "Myeloid-associated differentiation marker is associated with type 2 asthma and is upregulated by human rhinovirus infection.", Front Immunol, vol. 14, pp. 1237683, 2023. PMCID: PMC10450947  PMID: 37638015
Iannuzo, N., H. Welfley, N. C. Li, M. D. L. Johnson, J. Rojas-Quintero, F. Polverino, S. Guerra, X. Li, D. A. Cusanovich, P. R. Langlais, et al., "CC16 drives VLA-2-dependent SPLUNC1 expression.", Front Immunol, vol. 14, pp. 1277582, 2023. PMCID: PMC10694244  PMID: 38053993

2022

Guerra, S., J. G. Ledford, E. Melén, I. Lavi, A-E. Carsin, D. A. Stern, J. Zhai, M. Vidal, M. Bustamante, K. J. Addison, et al., "Creatine Kinase is Decreased in Childhood Asthma.", Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2022 Jul 23. PMID: 35876143
Schiff, H. V., C. M. Rivas, W. P. Pederson, E. Sandoval, S. Gillman, J. Prisco, M. Kume, G. Dussor, J. Vagner, J. G. Ledford, et al., "β-arrestin-biased proteinase-activated receptor-2 antagonist C781 limits allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation.", Br J Pharmacol, 2022 Jun 23. PMID: 35735078
Francisco, D., Y. Wang, C. Marshall, M. Conway, K. J. Addison, D. Billheimer, H. Kimura, M. Numata, H. W. Chu, D. R. Voelker, et al., "Small Peptide Derivatives Within the Carbohydrate Recognition Domain of SP-A2 Modulate Asthma Outcomes in Mouse Models and Human Cells.", Front Immunol, vol. 13, pp. 900022, 2022. PMCID: PMC9304716  PMID: 35874703
Li, X., S. Guerra, J. G. Ledford, M. Kraft, H. Li, A. T. Hastie, M. Castro, L. C. Denlinger, S. C. Erzurum, J. V. Fahy, et al., "Low CC16 mRNA Expression Levels in Bronchial Epithelial Cells Are Associated with Asthma Severity.", Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2022 Sep 06. PMID: 36066606
Pederson, W. P., L. M. Ellerman, E. C. Sandoval, S. Boitano, J. B. Frye, K. P. Doyle, H. L. Brooks, F. Polverino, and J. G. Ledford, "Development of a Novel Mouse Model of Menopause-associated Asthma.", Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, vol. 67, issue 5, pp. 605-609, 2022 Nov. PMID: 36318015

2021

Pederson, W. P., J. M. Cyphert-Daly, R. M. Tighe, L. G. Que, and J. G. Ledford, "Genetic variation in surfactant protein-A2 alters responses to ozone.", PLoS One, vol. 16, issue 2, pp. e0247504, 2021. PMCID: PMC7899376  PMID: 33617569
Polverino, F., T. David Wu, J. Rojas-Quintero, X. Wang, J. Mayo, M. Tomchaney, J. Tram, S. Packard, D. Zhang, K. H. Cleveland, et al., "Metformin: Experimental and Clinical Evidence for a Potential Role in Emphysema Treatment.", Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2021 May 25. PMID: 34033525
Eedara, B. Babu, W. Alabsi, D. Encinas-Basurto, R. Polt, J. G. Ledford, and H. M. Mansour, "Inhalation Delivery for the Treatment and Prevention of COVID-19 Infection.", Pharmaceutics, vol. 13, issue 7, 2021 Jul 14. PMCID: PMC8308954  PMID: 34371768
Tomchaney, M., M. Contoli, J. Mayo, S. Baraldo, S. Li, C. R. Cabel, D. A. Bull, S. Lick, J. Malo, S. Knoper, et al., "Paradoxical effects of cigarette smoke and COPD on SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease.", BMC Pulm Med, vol. 21, issue 1, pp. 275, 2021 Aug 23. PMCID: PMC8381712  PMID: 34425811
Collins, K. L., U. S. Younis, S. Tanyaratsrisakul, R. Polt, M. Hay, H. M. Mansour, and J. G. Ledford, "Angiotensin-(1-7) Peptide Hormone Reduces Inflammation and Pathogen Burden during Infection in Mice.", Pharmaceutics, vol. 13, issue 10, 2021 Oct 04. PMCID: PMC8539524  PMID: 34683907
Iannuzo, N., M. Insel, C. Marshall, W. P. Pederson, K. J. Addison, F. Polverino, S. Guerra, and J. G. Ledford, "CC16 deficiency in the context of early life infection results in augmented airway responses in adult mice.", Infect Immun, pp. IAI0054821, 2021 Nov 15. PMID: 34780280
Rivas, C. M., M. C. Yee, K. J. Addison, M. Lovett, K. Pal, J. G. Ledford, G. Dussor, T. J. Price, J. Vagner, K. A. DeFea, et al., "Novel proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) antagonist C391 inhibits Alternaria-induced human airway epithelial signaling in vitro and asthma indicators in acute exposure murine models.", Br J Pharmacol, 2021 Nov 28. PMID: 34841515
Dy, A. Blythe C., P. R. Langlais, N. K. Barker, K. J. Addison, S. Tanyaratsrisakul, S. Boitano, S. A. Christenson, M. Kraft, D. Meyers, E. R. Bleecker, et al., "Myeloid-associated differentiation marker is a novel SP-A-associated transmembrane protein whose expression on airway epithelial cells correlates with asthma severity.", Sci Rep, vol. 11, issue 1, pp. 23392, 2021 Dec 03. PMID: 34862427

2020

Johnson, M. D., U. S. Younis, S. V. Menghani, K. J. Addison, M. Whalen, A. L. Pilon, A. E. Cress, F. Polverino, C. Romanoski, M. Kraft, et al., "CC16 Binding to α4β1 Integrin (VLA-4) Protects Against Infection.", Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 2020 Dec 16. PMID: 33326355
Dy, A. B. C., and J. G. Ledford, "IL-13Rα2 Glycosylation Holds the Dance Card for Partnering with IL-13.", Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, vol. 63, issue 3, pp. 277-278, 2020 09. PMCID: PMC7462345  PMID: 32459972
Francisco, D., Y. Wang, M. Conway, A. N. Hurbon, A. B. C. Dy, K. J. Addison, H. W. Chu, D. R. Voelker, J. G. Ledford, and M. Kraft, "Surfactant Protein-A Protects against IL-13-Induced Inflammation in Asthma.", J Immunol, vol. 204, issue 10, pp. 2829-2839, 2020 05 15. PMCID: PMC7304346  PMID: 32245819
Dakhama, A., R. Al Mubarak, N. Pavelka, D. Voelker, M. Seibold, J. G. Ledford, M. Kraft, L. Li, and H. Wei Chu, "Tollip Inhibits ST2 Signaling in Airway Epithelial Cells Exposed to Type 2 Cytokines and Rhinovirus.", J Innate Immun, vol. 12, issue 1, pp. 103-115, 2020. PMCID: PMC6959119  PMID: 30928973
Muralidharan, P., E. K. Mallory, M. Malapit, H. Phan, J. G. Ledford, D. Hayes, and H. M. Mansour, "Advanced design and development of nanoparticle/microparticle dual-drug combination lactose carrier-free dry powder inhalation aerosols.", RSC Adv, vol. 10, issue 68, pp. 41846-41856, 2020 Nov 17. PMCID: PMC7689944  PMID: 33391731
Younis, U. S., H. Wei Chu, M. Kraft, and J. G. Ledford, "A 20-Mer Peptide Derived from the Lectin Domain of Decreases Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Production during Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection.", Infect Immun, vol. 88, issue 9, 2020 08 19. PMCID: PMC7440763  PMID: 32513852

2019

Zhai, J., M. Insel, K. J. Addison, D. A. Stern, W. Pederson, A. Dy, J. Rojas-Quintero, C. A. Owen, D. L. Sherrill, W. Morgan, et al., "Club Cell Secretory Protein Deficiency Leads to Altered Lung Function.", Am J Respir Crit Care Med, vol. 199, issue 3, pp. 302-312, 2019 02 01. PMCID: PMC6363971  PMID: 30543455
Younis, U. S., E. Vallorz, K. J. Addison, J. G. Ledford, and P. B. Myrdal, "Preformulation and Evaluation of Tofacitinib as a Therapeutic Treatment for Asthma.", AAPS PharmSciTech, vol. 20, issue 5, pp. 167, 2019 Apr 16. PMCID: PMC6818719  PMID: 30993508
Dy, A. Blythe C., M. Z. Arif, K. J. Addison, L. G. Que, S. Boitano, M. Kraft, and J. G. Ledford, "Genetic Variation in Surfactant Protein-A2 Delays Resolution of Eosinophilia in Asthma.", J Immunol, vol. 203, issue 5, pp. 1122-1130, 2019 09 01. PMCID: PMC6702058  PMID: 31350355
Sandalova, E., J. G. Ledford, M. Baskaran, and S. Dijkstra, "Translational Medicine in the Era of Social Media: A Survey of Scientific and Clinical Communities.", Front Med (Lausanne), vol. 6, pp. 152, 2019. PMCID: PMC6616126  PMID: 31334236

2018

Dy, A. Blythe C., S. Tanyaratsrisakul, D. R. Voelker, and J. G. Ledford, "The Emerging Roles of Surfactant Protein-A in Asthma.", J Clin Cell Immunol, vol. 9, issue 4, 2018. PMCID: PMC6092951  PMID: 30123671
Dijkstra, S., G. Kok, J. G. Ledford, E. Sandalova, and R. Stevelink, "Possibilities and Pitfalls of Social Media for Translational Medicine.", Front Med (Lausanne), vol. 5, pp. 345, 2018. PMCID: PMC6291449  PMID: 30574495
Lugogo, N., D. Francisco, K. J. Addison, A. Manne, W. Pederson, J. L. Ingram, C. L. Green, B. T. Suratt, J. J. Lee, M. E. Sunday, et al., "Obese asthmatic patients have decreased surfactant protein A levels: Mechanisms and implications.", J Allergy Clin Immunol, vol. 141, issue 3, pp. 918-926.e3, 2018 03. PMCID: PMC5732097  PMID: 28624607