Todd Wyatt, PhD

Professor, Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health

College of Public Health
Professor, Internal Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy
College of Medicine
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Professional Summary

• 2011-Present  Professor, Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
• 2008-Present Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
• 2008-2011  Associate Professor, Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
• 2003-2008  Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
• 1997-2003  Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
• 1995-Present  Research Biochemist, Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Omaha, NE USA
• 1995-1997  Instructor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
• 1992-1995  Postdoctoral Research Associate, Supervisor: Jackie D. Corbin, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
• 1988-1992  Graduate Student, Katherine B. Pryzwansky, PhD, dissertation advisor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA

Education

• PhD University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 1992
• BS Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 1986

Research Interests

The research in my laboratory is directed toward the understanding of airway epithelial cell function under physiologic and disease conditions. We are interested in the mechanistic signal transduction pathways that define ciliary beating, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, remodeling and wound repair, and cell adhesion under conditions of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Our studies aim to define the role of serine-threonine protein kinases and the second messengers that regulate these enzymes in lung epithelial function.  I received the American Lung Association Career Investigator Award. I was awarded the Distinguished Scientist Award here at UNMC in 2010 and in 2012. I received the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Research Career Scientist Award in 2012. 

Selected Publications

• McCaskill, M. L., K. K. Kharbanda, D. J. Tuma, J. Reynolds, J. DeVasure, J. H. Sisson, and T. A. Wyatt. Hybrid malondialdehyde and acetaldehyde protein adducts form in the lungs of mice exposed to alcohol and cigarette smoke. Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res. 35(6):1106-13, 2011.
• Bailey, K. L., J. E. Robinson, J. H. Sisson, and T. A. Wyatt. Alcohol decreases RhoA activity through a Nitric Oxide (NO)/Cyclic GMP (cGMP)/ Protein Kinase G (PKG) dependent pathway in the airway epithelium. Alcoholism: Clin Exp Res. 35(7):1277-81, 2011.
• Allen-Gipson, D. S., M. R. Blackburn, D. J. Schneider, H. Zhang, D. L. Bluitt, J. C. Jarrell, D. Yanov, J. H. Sisson, and T. A. Wyatt. Adenosine Activation of A2B Receptor(s) is Essential for Potentiating of Epithelial Ciliary Motility and Clearance. Am. J. Physiol. 301(2):L171-80, 2011.
• Fiedler, S. E., J. H. Sisson, T. A. Wyatt, J. A. Pavlik, T. M. Gambling, J. L. Carson, Daniel W. Carr. Loss of ASP but not ROPN1 reduces mammalian ciliary motility. Cytoskeleton (PMID: 22021175). *Article featured on the cover.
• Wyatt, T. A., K. K. Kharbanda, M. L. McCaskill, D. J. Tuma, D. Yanov, J. DeVasure, and J. H. Sisson. Malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) adducted protein inhalation causes lung injury. Alcohol 46:51-59, 2012.
• Navarrette, C. R., J. Hanes, E. Nance, J. H. Sisson, and T.A. Wyatt. Particulate Matter in Cigarette Smoke Increases Ciliary Axoneme Beating through Mechanical Stimulation. J. Aerosol. Med. Pulm. Drug Deliv. (PMID: 22280523).

Professional Affiliations

• American Thoracic Society (ATS)
• American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
• Society for Leukocyte Biology (SLB)
• Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM)
• Sigma Xi
• American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP)
• International Society for Biomedical research in Alcoholism (ISBRA)
• Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA)