Research
Dr. Danopoulos’ research has centered on understanding human lung development. She has established a strong foundation in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that guide lung branch patterning, airway cell differentiation, and the mesenchymal–epithelial interactions essential for proper lung formation. This work is particularly important because many congenital lung diseases, such as pulmonary hypoplasia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, arise from disruptions in these early developmental events. Dr. Danopoulos continues to advance the field by investigating congenital lung anomalies, with a primary emphasis on those associated with Down syndrome.
Biography
Dr. Soula Danopoulos earned her undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. She went on to complete an MS in Pathology (2011) and a PhD in Developmental Biology (2014) at the University of Southern California. She then pursued postdoctoral training in Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where her work focused on lung development and pediatric lung diseases.