Thomas J. Mariani PhD

Thomas J. Mariani, Ph.D. is Professor of Pediatrics in Neonatology and Vice-Chair for Research in Pediatrics at the University of Rochester. Dr. Mariani received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1993. Prior to arriving in Rochester in 2008, he held faculty positions at Harvard Medical School in Boston (2001-2008) and at Washington University in St. Louis (1999-2001). From 2004-2008, he served as Director of Bioinformatics for the Lung Biology Center at Harvard Medical School. In 2012, he became founding co-director of the University of Rochester Pediatric Translational Biospecimen Laboratory, which facilitates the collection, processing, and archiving of clinically derived specimens for investigational purposes. In 2013 he became founding Director of the University of Rochester Pediatric Molecular and Personalized Medicine Program, which supports collaborative, multi-disciplinary translational research projects.

Dr. Mariani’s research program focuses upon identifying mechanisms of susceptibility to respiratory diseases, particularly focusing upon their developmental antecedents and the influence of environmental factors. This involves defining key resident cell regulatory networks contributing to lung development and maturation, and which may be perturbed in diseased states. His work integrates genetic and exposure-related models of chronic lung disease with translational research in human subjects. He is recognized for contributions to the application of genomics methods, both for defining lung developmental mechanisms and for respiratory disease gene discovery. His laboratory has been NIH-funded since 2003, and he has published over 85 original research articles.

In addition to his own research interests, Dr. Mariani contributes his time as a reviewer, organizer, and administrator to federal and international research organizations and societies. Highlights include serving as Chair of the 2015 Gordon Conference on Lung Development, Injury and Repair and a recent 6-year term on the Lung Injury, Repair, and Remodeling Study Section. Dr. Mariani also enjoys mentoring trainees and junior professionals.