Research Overview

Dr. Melody Duvall’s research centers on the study of immunologic mechanisms underlying diseases of lung inflammation with a focus on cellular targets and molecular pathways for the resolution of lung inflammation and injury. Her current research is focused on investigating the role of natural killer (NK) cells in the pathophysiology of acute RSV-associated lung inflammation in critically ill infants and children with respiratory failure. In collaboration with Dr. Bruce Levy (levylab.bwh.harvard.edu), Dr. Duvall studies the impact of lipid-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators in enhancing NK cell resolution effector functions. She is also a collaborator on translational research projects in patients with severe asthma focused on immune dysregulation and impaired inflammation resolution in this population. The overarching goal of Dr. Duvall’s research is to generate insight into the pathogenesis of severe RSV bronchiolitis and other diseases of overwhelming lung inflammation to identify novel resolution pathways promising for future therapeutic development.

Research Background

Dr. Melody Duvall is board-certified in pediatric critical care medicine and is an attending physician in the Medical-Surgical and Cardiac Intensive Care Units. She received her PhD in Immunology from Oxford University, United Kingdom, in 2006 through the NIH-Oxford Graduate Partnership Program and her MD from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine in 2008. She completed her pediatrics residency at Boston Children’s Hospital in 2012 and her pediatric critical care medicine fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital in 2015. She is currently a Scholar in the Pediatric Critcal Care and Trauma Scientist Devleopment Program (PCCTSDP), a national NICHD-funded K12 career developlement award.

Education

Graduate School

Immunology University of Oxford
2006 Oxford United Kingdom

Medical School

Washington University School of Medicine
2008 St. Louis MO

Residency

Pediatrics Boston Combined Residency Program (BCRP)
2011 Boston MA

Fellowship

Critical Care Boston Children's Hospital
2015 Boston MA

Publications

  1. An altered natural killer cell immunophenotype characterizes clinically severe pediatric RSV infection. Sci Transl Med. 2024 Oct 09; 16(768):eado6606. View Abstract
  2. 15-epi-lipoxin A5 promotes neutrophil exit from exudates for clearance by splenic macrophages. FASEB J. 2024 Jul 31; 38(14):e23807. View Abstract
  3. Pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalizations and Respiratory Support After the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jun 03; 7(6):e2416852. View Abstract
  4. Vitamin D constrains inflammation by modulating the expression of key genes on Chr17q12-21.1. Elife. 2024 Apr 03; 12. View Abstract
  5. Resolvin D2 regulates type 2 inflammatory responses and promotes resolution of mouse allergic inflammation. Allergy. 2024 03; 79(3):739-743. View Abstract
  6. The Maresin 1-LGR6 axis decreases respiratory syncytial virus-induced lung inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 01 10; 120(2):e2206480120. View Abstract
  7. The Impact of Insulin Resistance on Loss of Lung Function and Response to Treatment in Asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022 11 01; 206(9):1096-1106. View Abstract
  8. Mouse phospholipid phosphatase 6 regulates dendritic cell cholesterol, macropinocytosis, and allergen sensitization. iScience. 2022 Oct 21; 25(10):105185. View Abstract
  9. Case 2-2022: An Adolescent Male in Cardiac Arrest 3 Days After Liver Transplantation for End-Stage Liver Disease. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2022 09 01; 23(9):e440-e450. View Abstract
  10. Specialized pro-resolving mediators in respiratory diseases. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2022 03 01; 25(2):67-74. View Abstract
  11. Inflammation resolution circuits are uncoupled in acute sepsis and correlate with clinical severity. JCI Insight. 2021 08 09; 6(15). View Abstract
  12. Invasive and noninvasive ventilation strategies for acute respiratory failure in children with coronavirus disease 2019. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2021 06 01; 33(3):311-318. View Abstract
  13. Human NK Cell Cytoskeletal Dynamics and Cytotoxicity Are Regulated by LIM Kinase. J Immunol. 2020 08 01; 205(3):801-810. View Abstract
  14. Leukocyte function assessed via serial microlitre sampling of peripheral blood from sepsis patients correlates with disease severity. Nat Biomed Eng. 2019 12; 3(12):961-973. View Abstract
  15. Non-type 2 inflammation in severe asthma is propelled by neutrophil cytoplasts and maintained by defective resolution. Allergol Int. 2019 Apr; 68(2):143-149. View Abstract
  16. Neutrophil cytoplasts induce TH17 differentiation and skew inflammation toward neutrophilia in severe asthma. Sci Immunol. 2018 08 03; 3(26). View Abstract
  17. ALX receptor ligands define a biochemical endotype for severe asthma. JCI Insight. 2018 03 22; 3(6). View Abstract
  18. Better Late Than Never? Deferred Consent for Minimal Risk Research in the ICU. Crit Care Med. 2017 09; 45(9):1571-1572. View Abstract
  19. ALX receptor ligands define a biochemical endotype for severe asthma. JCI Insight. 2017 Jul 20; 2(14). View Abstract
  20. Bronchoprotective mechanisms for specialized pro-resolving mediators in the resolution of lung inflammation. Mol Aspects Med. 2017 Dec; 58:44-56. View Abstract
  21. Natural killer cell-mediated inflammation resolution is disabled in severe asthma. Sci Immunol. 2017 Mar 10; 2(9). View Abstract
  22. Mast cell-derived neurotrophin 4 mediates allergen-induced airway hyperinnervation in early life. Mucosal Immunol. 2016 11; 9(6):1466-1476. View Abstract
  23. DHA- and EPA-derived resolvins, protectins, and maresins in airway inflammation. Eur J Pharmacol. 2016 Aug 15; 785:144-155. View Abstract
  24. Pulmonary hypertension associated with scurvy and vitamin deficiencies in an autistic child. Pediatrics. 2013 Dec; 132(6):e1699-703. View Abstract
  25. Polyfunctional T cell responses are a hallmark of HIV-2 infection. Eur J Immunol. 2008 Feb; 38(2):350-63. View Abstract
  26. Effects of cryopreservation on CD4+ CD25+ T cells of HIV-1 infected individuals. J Clin Lab Anal. 2008; 22(3):153-8. View Abstract
  27. Dendritic cells are less susceptible to human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection than to HIV-1 infection. J Virol. 2007 Dec; 81(24):13486-98. View Abstract
  28. Maintenance of HIV-specific CD4+ T cell help distinguishes HIV-2 from HIV-1 infection. J Immunol. 2006 Jun 01; 176(11):6973-81. View Abstract
  29. Analysis of human immunodeficiency virus cytopathicity by using a new method for quantitating viral dynamics in cell culture. J Virol. 2005 Apr; 79(7):4025-32. View Abstract
  30. Cytopathic killing of peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocytes by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 appears necrotic rather than apoptotic and does not require env. J Virol. 2002 May; 76(10):5082-93. View Abstract

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