Lucas Hoffman Back

Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle
Director, Center for Cystic Fibrosis Microbiology

Luke Hoffman, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Clinically, he cares for a children with a wide variety of respiratory problems, with specific expertise in difficult respiratory infections, including those due to cystic fibrosis, non-CF bronchiectasis, and immunodeficiencies. His research laboratory investigates the microbial determinants of chronic infections and other diseases in children, particularly those due to cystic fibrosis and other congenital problems. Due to our growing appreciation over the past decade that many chronic respiratory infections are polymicrobial, particularly those affecting children, the Hoffman laboratory makes extensive use of advanced culture-based and microbiome methods to analyze the microbes from clinical specimens, including respiratory, fecal, and cerebrospinal fluid samples, to identify the microbial constituents and to characterize their behaviors. The results inform the construction of new in vitro and animal models, and ultimately new clinical studies, aimed at defining the pathophysiological mechanisms and improved diagnosis and treatment of chronic pediatric disease.

Luke also directs the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Center for CF Microbiology, a national resource center that provides consultation and services to researchers designing and performing studies involving CF microbiological outcomes.

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