Peter Chiles

Background

About Peter Chiles

For over 27 years at UCSD, our research group has had a longstanding interest in blood clot formation and resolution, but I have been blessed to work in many multi-faceted areas. More recently I have been asked to split my focus and also manage a lab which focuses on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. My selected experiences: Working on a novel nuclear medicine technique using radiolabeled anti-D-dimer antibodies to detect deep vein thrombi and pulmonary emboli, we were able to obtain images both pre-clinically and clinically of blood clots in the lungs and lower extremities. To characterize acceleration of active thrombosis, I helped develop a clinical assay to measure urinary excretion of fibrinopeptide B. This novel test measures a peptide associated with clot formation, unlike the clinical D-Dimer test which measures the products of clot degradation, and may be useful to monitor the effectiveness of anticoagulation, or to study clot formation in situations where DVT formation is prevalent. My contributions reward me co-authorship on publications that implicate fibrin abnormalities in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and chronic thrombotic venous disease. These include rare mutations and post translational modifications which affect protein structure seen using Deuterium Exchange Mass Spec and Confocal Microscopy and may result in delayed fibrinolysis and incomplete profusion recovery. New work involves molecular diagnosis of TB and its resistance to drug therapy. Working for the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division gives me the privilege of working with people from all over the world, helping them conduct research. It has rewarded me with wonderful experiences and lifelong friendships.