Dr. Bruce Pitt is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health within the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. He holds a B.A. from Brown University and a Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene Public Health. In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Pitt is also an active research investigator with primary interests in the molecular and cellular biology of the lung.

Due to the work done within his lab, Dr. Pitt has been featured in several publications. To date, his work has focused primarily on the role of oxidants and nitric oxide in affecting pulmonary endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell function. Isolated primary cell cultures, genetically modified murine models and somatic gene transfer to lung have each been used as model systems to identify the role of partially reduced oxygen and nitrogen species in the response of the lung to stress and injury. However, recent efforts have been directed towards understanding the role of S-nitrosylation of the metal binding intracellular protein, metallothoinein, on zinc homeostasis and endothelial cell function. These studies are aided by a number of microspectrofluorometric approaches, including a green fluorescent protein modified chimera of metallothionein, suitable for fluorescence resonance energy transfer. For more information on any one of the projects in which Dr. Pitt is currently involved please see one of the following:

• The role of metallothoinein on zinc homeostasis and endothelial cell function
• Somatic gene transfer for the treatment of pulmonary vascular disease

CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Bruce R. Pitt
Phone: (412) 383-2073
Email: brucep@pitt.edu