About - Dr Irfan Rahman

About Dr Irfan Rahman

Dean’s Professor, Environmental & Inhalation Toxicologist, Global Scientific Leader

PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW

Internationally Recognized Leader in Environmental Health & Lung Disease Research

Dr. Irfan Rahman is a Dean’s Professor of Environmental Medicine, Medicine (Pulmonary), Public Health Sciences, and General Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is also the Director of the Center for Inhaled Flavoring Toxicology, where he leads cutting-edge research on inhaled toxicants, vaping, environmental exposures, redox biology, lung aging, COPD, and precision environmental health.

His work bridges basic science, translational research, and regulatory toxicology, with global impact on understandinghow environmental toxicants/irritants/agents affecting human lung health, and therapeutics/pharmaceuticals ameliorating lung damage/disease.

Early Life and Education

Irfan Rahman was born in the city of Bhopal, India. During the Bhopal disaster, he was in his late teens when a pipeline at a Bhopal-based Union Carbide Corp. affiliate leaked, releasing a cloud of toxic gas leading to many deaths and life-long injuries including lung ailments.

Irfan holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry on neutrophil functions in hypertension. He carried out his early education at Rabbani High School, St Francis de Sales College, and Nagpur University, Nagpur (India). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship on lung toxicology at the University of Miami and Georgetown University., before relocating to the University of Edinburgh, where he focused on environmental agents and lung inflammation and received an appointment as a Senior Research Scientist/Lecturer

Career

Irfan is a Dean’s Professor at the Department of Environmental Medicine, Medicine (Pulmonary), University of Rochester Medical Center, USA, Public Health Sciences and General Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center (School of Medicine and Dentistry), NY.

He works extensively on understanding mechanisms affecting lung function and pathology in various respiratory diseases by external factors, such as environmental smoke and air pollution. Irfan primarily focuses on research regarding oxidative stress, inflammation, molecular clock, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetics, and cellular senescence by environmental tobacco smoke/tobacco products (cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes, flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes, waterpipe/hookah, iQOS, CBD/THC, and cigars), airborne particulate matter, ozone, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles and PFOS/PFAS Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid/perfluorinated alkylated substances, also called perfluorochemicals (PFCs) in the lung (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/Interstitial Lung Diseases), as well as oral/periodontal diseases. His major research emphasis and focus have been on understanding the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory lung diseases particularly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)/emphysema, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis.

His major research emphasis and focus have been on understanding the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory lung diseases particularly Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)/emphysema, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis which is imposed by cigarette smoke/e-cigarettes/hookah or waterpipe tobacco smoke, and environmental air pollution. Irfan has gained international recognition for his research on the prevention and treatment of smoking-induced lung diseases and has published more than 350 papers/articles in peer-reviewed journals with more than 50,000 citations along with an impact factor of more than H=105.

Irfan has several patents on his remarkable discoveries and findings, e.g., patents on biomarkers for identifying e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury, and methods of treating chronic inflammatory diseases.

Irfan has several patents on his remarkable discoveries and findings, e.g. patents on biomarkers for identifying e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury, and Methods of Treating chronic inflammatory diseases. Irfan Rahman has been featured in several interviews and publications over the years, including CBS News, NBC News, Forbes, and Hindustan Times, to name a few.

Education & Training

Foundational Academic and Research Development Across United States, United Kingdom, and Globally including India

Dr. Irfan Rahman’s academic training spans rigorous biomedical education and advanced interdisciplinary research in molecular toxicology, redox biology, environmental health, COPD and IPF mechanisms, lung aging, and inhalation toxicology. His scientific development integrates biomedical foundations with international postdoctoral and fellowship experiences across three countries.

375 +

Publications across journals, reviews, and book chapters

0.1%

Of top global scientists

3x

Highly Cited Researcher (2014–2016)

30+

Major national & international awards

16th

Ranked worldwide in Respiratory & Allergy

Inventions

Dr Irfan Rahman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Publication number: 20140080795

Abstract: Methods for the treatment or prevention of diseases which are caused by the decreased concentrations of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in cells are described. The diseases which may be treated by the methods of the invention include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, including steroid resistant COPD and asthma. The invention provides methods for treating or preventing of diseases caused by the degradation of HDAC2 by providing to the subject in need of treatment or prevention a molecular compound capable of preventing the degradation of HDAC2. Such molecular compounds include Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activators. Methods are further provided for the treatment and prevention of COPD and asthma by providing to a subject in need of such treatment and prevention a nucleic acid which causes expression of HDAC2 in lung cells and/or a nucleic acid which causes expression of Nrf2 in lung cells.

Type: Application

Filed: November 18, 2011

Publication date: March 20, 2014

Applicant: University of Rochester

Inventors: Irfan Rahman

Publication number: 20230236207

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to novel biomarkers and their methods of use for identifying and treating e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI)

Type: Application

Filed: January 24, 2023

Publication date: July 27, 2023

Inventors: Irfan Rahman, Matthew McGraw

Publication number: 20120183524

Abstract: Molecular targets and methods for treating inflammatory disorders are described. The expression and/or functionality of molecular targets RelB or SIRT1 is modified in order to treat inflammatory disorders. The expression of RelB or SIRT1 may be increased, or the activity of RelB or SIRT1 may be increased in order to inhibit transcription factors which activate genes involved in inflammation. Inflammatory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are indicated.

Type: Application

Filed: August 8, 2008

Publication date: July 19, 2012

Inventors: Irfan Rahman, Matthew McGraw

Publication number: 20120022129

Abstract: Methods for the treatment or prevention of diseases which are caused by the degradation of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in cells are described. The diseases which may be treated by the methods of the invention include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The invention provides methods for treating or preventing of diseases caused by the degradation of HDAC2 by providing to the subject in need of treatment or prevention a molecular compound capable of preventing the degradation of HDAC2. Such molecular compounds include protein kinase CK2 inhibitors, ubiquitination inhibitors, ubiquitin-proteosome inhibitors, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activators and MAPK phosphatase 1 activators. Methods are also provided for the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by the degredation of HDAC2 by interfering with the expression of protein kinase CK2 or by increasing expression of Nrf2.

Type: Application

Filed: February 18, 2011

Publication date: January 26, 2012

Inventors: Irfan Rahman, Matthew McGraw

SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP

Leadership & Professional Service

New York Academy of Sciences

American Thoracic Society / American Lung Association

American Physiological Society

International Society for Free Radical Research, USA

British Association for Lung Research

Indian Society of Hypertension

Society of Free Radical Research, India

Society of Toxicology

Environment Mutagenesis and Genomics Society

Society For Research On Nicotine and Tobacco

Society for Redox Biology and Medicine

PrePrints

Accomplishments

2021

Moderator and Facilitator | Meet the Expert Session: ME012 LUNG AGING - NEW PRECLINICAL MODELS AND MECHANISMS OF CELLULAR SENESCENCE. ATS 2021 Monday, May 17, 2021

Discussant | PGME Course Proposal for ATS 2020 (May 14-19, 2021, San Diego, CA) entitled: “From the ICU to basic research: E-cigarettes and the EVALI epidemic”. American Thoracic Society (ATS) The EVALI Epidemic: Pathogenesis, Management and Future Directions

Invited Talk | ATS 2021: NIEHS-Environmental Exposures and Covid-19 Susceptibility, Invited Talk Title: Increased susceptibility to Covid-19 infection by alterations of SARS-CoV2 interacting proteins by stress in smokers/vapers, May 14-19, 2021

2020

COVID-19 Committee | DR2 EHS-NIEHS working group

Member | American Thoracic Society Tobacco Control Task Force

Member | American Federation for Aging Research AFAR’s National Scientific Advisory Council (NSAC).

President | Society of Toxicology, IRSS Visit: https://www.toxicology.org/groups/ss/IRSS/exec_comm.asp

2019

Vice-President | Society of Toxicology, IRSS Visit: https://www.toxicology.org/groups/ss/IRSS/exec_comm.asp

Spotlight webpage | Selected by the NIEHS EHSC Visit: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/core/spotlight/
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/core/spotlight/rahman/index.cfm

Founding Chair | Lung Aging Research Interest/Working Group of the American Thoracic Society Visit: http://www.thoracic.org/members/assemblies/assemblies/rcmb/working-groups/lung-aging-research/

2018

American Thoracic Society Fellow from the Directorates of the ATS

Member | Specialty Section Collaboration and Communication Group (SS-CCG), SOT

Vice-President Elect | Society of Toxicology, IRSS

2016

Elected as a Councillor | Inhalation and Respiratory Specialty Section (IRSS)

Publications

Listed as Highly Cited Researchers, 2014, 2015, and 2016 in Toxicology and Pharmacology by Thomson Reuters

H-index=122 by googlescholar http://apps.webofknowledge.com/ (Thomson Reuters) https://www.webometrics.info/en/hlargerthan100

Research Gate IF: 46.81

ORCID Identifier: 0000-0003-2274-2454

Scopus Author ID: 7007017874

Research Interests

Current Theme

Inflammation, cellular senescence, exosomes, and tobacco science

Long-term interests

Basic Biology to Translational Research in Environmental Lung Biology/Environmental Inhalation/Occupational Toxicology, Cell/Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Toxicology, Pharmacology, and Disease

Dr Irfan Rahman's research interests include environmental/inhalation toxicology: oxidants, antioxidants (glutathione and polyphenols), regulation of redox-sensitive transcription factors, mechanism of proinflammatory and antioxidant gene expression, redox signaling – molecular gene regulation and chromatin remodeling-epigenetic changes (histone acetylation/deacetylation), mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, involvement of anti-inflammatory and anti-aging proteins sirtuins in chronic inflammatory diseases. Overall, my long-term goal is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of inhaled toxicants’mediated chronic lung diseases i.e. the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis, and the potential benefit of pharmacological therapeutic interventions in these debilitating diseases especially in relation to chronic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in premature aging/chronic diseases.

KEY RESEARCH DOMAINS

Environmental Inhalation Toxicology/Carcinogenesis

Cellular and molecular redox mechanisms of airway inflammation and senesence: Oxidative stress, glutathione/thiols, mitophagy/mitochondrial dysfunction, transcription factors (NF-kB, AP-1, and FOXO3), endothelial dysfunction, cytokines, circadian rhythm, glucocorticoid, epigenetics and chromatin remodeling in smokers and COPD, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis using a variety of in vitro, ex-vivo and in vivo models in response to tobacco products (conventional, e-cigarettes, flavoring, hookah/waterpipe tobacco smoke) and environmental toxicants (particulate matter and nanoparticles/ultra fine particles), climate change smoke and lung health effects using cellular, molecular and imaging techniques.

Biomarkers of Disease

Non-invasive detection and development of biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in smokers, asthma, fibrosis and COPD.

Pharmacology and Dietary Interventions

Molecular mechanisms of novel synthetic and dietary antioxidant (polyphenols/bioflavonoids, e.g. curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin) and novel anti-inflammatory compounds in attenuation of chronic lung inflammation and overcoming steroid resistance in response to cigarette/tobacco smoke

Epigenetics, Mitochondria, Molecular clock and Lung Aging/Senescence

The goal is to determine the molecular clock disruption, air pollutants, and environmental (ETS, aldehydes, PAHs) exposures leading to debilitating conditions and their exacerbations in aging, and what molecular pathways (epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunctionk, cellular senescence) involved leading to prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for interventions of diseases of lung aging and cancer.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (DEI) activities

Dr Irfan Rahman is committed to consider equity, diversity, and inclusion criteria when he recruit students and fellows for the Program.

Dr. Irfan Rahman's lab is committed to URMC defined core principles of maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, irrespective of race, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, ability as well as cultural, political, or other affiliations. This lab is committed in promoting a respectful lab environment and being transparent in our teaching and research with maintaining the ethical standars. Dr. Rahman's team believes that open, honest communication, professionalism in science, and a diverse workforce allows creation of new ideas and service to community.

We take full consideration of equity, diversity, and inclusion when recruiting both undergraduate and graduate students into our research team
Currently, 50% of our project research assistants are women and 33% of our project research assistants are minorities
We recruit subjects from diverse groups for our funded project which examines the impact of the FDA e-cigarette flavor enforcement policy through an online study
We follow the DEI criteria when selecting candidates for our programs

Advisory Committees

Preprints.org (Advisory Board Member)

Present

Univesity of Highlands and Islands, European-Scottish Lipidomics Center (honorary)

2010 - 2015

Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany

2009 - 2010

Kiel Laboratories, Inc., Gainesville, GA

2011

Merck Research Laboratoroies (COPD Scientific Advisory Board)

2011

Proctor & Gamble (P&G) (Scientific Advisory Board)

2013

DEGRESS

Formal Education

B.Sc

Biology & Chemistry

MSc

Biochemistry

PhD

Biochemistry

Training-related Professional Roles

Academic & Research Appointments

Lecturer

Biochemistry

Research Scientist / Lecturer

Senior

Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology

Lecturer

Research Fellowships

Honorary Fellow

Fellow

Chest Heart and Stroke Association

Travel Fellowship

British Lung Foundation/Allen Hanburys

Travel Fellowship

Scottish Chest Heart and Stroke

Travel Fellowship

IX Biennial International Meeting

Travel Fellowship

European Respiratory Society

Travel Fellowship

Free Radical Research

Travel Fellowship

Astra

Travel Fellowship

Japan International Science and Technology

Exchange Fellowship

Canadian Lung Association/Canadian Lung Foundation

Fellowship

PRE-DOCTORAL TRAINING

Research Fellowships

Research Fellowship

Junior

Research Fellowship

Senior

POST-DOCTORAL TRAINING

Advanced Research Training

Postdoctoral

Fellow

Postdoctoral

Research Associate

Postdoctoral

Fellow

Early Scientific Development & Research Foundations

Initial Focus Areas That Shaped a Global Research Program

During early academic and research periods, he developed:

Oxidative stress research models
Environmental exposure and toxicology assays
Redox and antioxidant biology frameworks
Lung injury and inflammation modeling
Foundational epigenetic theories of disease
Mitochondrial dysfunction paradigms in lung disease

These formative insights directly influenced his later breakthroughs in COPD, lung aging, vaping toxicology, and molecular interventions.

Specialized Scientific Training

Deep Training in Mechanisms of Lung Injury, Toxicology & Redox Biology

Inhalation toxicology
Environmental health sciences
Oxidative stress mechanisms and redox regulation
Epigenetics and chromatin biology (HDACs, SIRTs, histone modifications)
Mitochondrial bioenergetics & metabolic dysfunction
COPD pathogenesis & lung aging
Immune & inflammatory signaling
Toxicology of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, aerosols, flavorings, and vaping products

These competencies later became signature elements of his scientific career.

Education & Training - Numerical Highlights

A Snapshot of Academic Formation & Scientific Growth

3

Academic degrees in Biochemistry (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.)

3

Major international research institutions (USA & UK)

375 +

Advanced training phases:

- Postdoctoral
- Research Training
- Research Fellowship

10 +

Specialized scientific domains mastered during formative years

3

International trainings

- India
- United States
- United Kingdom