Researcher | Research Overview
Dr. Brugnara’s basic research interests are focused on transport of ions across cell membrane. His studies have identified the role of specific transport proteins in inducing erythrocyte dehydration in sickle cell disease and identified new therapeutic approaches for sickle cell anemia. His most recent research has focused on genetic determinant of erythrocyte hydration and genetic diseases of red cell hydration like dehydrated stomatocytosis.
Dr. Brugnara’s clinical laboratory-based research has been focused on the use of hematological parameters to assess the balance between iron availability and erythropoiesis. He has described the appearance of functional iron deficiency in normal subjects treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) based on the particular flow cytometric characteristics of erythrocytes and reticulocytes. He has shown the clinical value of reticulocyte parameters in the setting of r-HuEPO use and in the diagnosis of iron deficiency in children.
Researcher | Research Background
Dr. Carlo Brugnara received his MD from the University of Verona, Italy in 1979. In 1982 he joined as a postdoctoral fellow the laboratory of Dr. Daniel Tosteson in the Department of Physiology at Harvard Medical School. He trained in Clinical Pathology and Transfusion Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston from 1986 to 1990, and holds board certifications in both specialties. In 1992, he joined the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital as Director of the Hematology Laboratory.
Dr. Brugnara is a fellow of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, and the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists. Since 2007 he is the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Hematology.