SEGMENT 4: Dr. Monica Kraft talks about what she sees as the most provocative questions facing science today.

Dr. Gary H. Gibbons, director, NHLBI:  As we close, let me just get a sense of your response just to a sort of blue sky opportunity, sort of forget that there are fiscal constraints. What do you think are some of the most provocative scientific questions or burning sorts of leading edge things that you think are most exciting to pursue and invest in for the advancement of the field?

Dr. Monica Kraft, Duke University:  Well, that’s interesting. That’s an interesting question. Well, we’ve talked about some of them today. I actually think this whole issue of the host microbe interaction and the microbiome, I think certainly, if I had unlimited funds, that would be certainly an important area to invest in. It’s already being invested in, but I think there are so many unanswered questions about mechanisms and how to modulate the microbiome and how that affects chronic disease – both its presentation, its progression. And can it be prevented, I think, is one of the major questions. Can we intervene early – that would be the second issue. What can we do early on in life to really protect against the development of chronic disease whether it be asthma, COPD, fibrosis? It doesn’t necessarily have to be narrowed only to airway disease. I think these early life events are critical and I don’t think we fully understand them well in all the diseases we treat. 

I think the question of where molecular phenotyping and genetics fits in, I think I would love to see that bear out. Especially looking at a lot of the genetic studies that have been done in chronic diseases. It’s been complicated. And so can we take a step back? And maybe we need to look at more of a systems biology approach, looking at both with the influence of genetics, epigenetics, signaling pathways. Because it’s a very complex milieu in a living organism. And I thought myself, if I should try to do a systems biology sabbatical to learn more about this. Because I feel like as a person who studies the translational research, we often try to do it in a reductionist way. Is that always the best way to do it? I mean, I understand for experimental design and scientific questions and hypothesis testing, yes. But really, when you translate it to human disease, I feel like only a few of us really understand this biology approach and how to use it in different areas not only in lung disease, but I would say beyond. And I would love to see more emphasis on that because I think that’s one area that is very young but needs to be explored, in my opinion.

So those would be a couple of examples. 

Dr. Gibbons:  Well, those are very provocative thoughts, indeed. That sort of systems approach of systems biology, systems medicine, I think resonates as a particularly timely opportunity. Well, Monica, I really want to thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and your research productivity. I think a lot of your comments to the next generation, again, were inspiring and again appreciate your leadership and your mentorship. Thanks again.

Dr. Kraft:  Well, thank you so much for having me. This has been incredibly enjoyable and I really appreciate the opportunity.