Thomas H. Shaffer, Ph.D.

Associate Director of Nemours Biomedical Research
Director of the Nemours Research Lung Center
Director of the Nemours Office of Technology Transfer

Contact

Department of Research
Nemours Research Lung Center
1600 Rockland Road
Wilmington, DE 19899

Phone: 302-651-6837
Fax: 302-651-6810
E-mail: tshaffer@nemours.org

Education

B.S.: Drexel University
M.S.: Penn State University
M.S., Ph.D.: Drexel University
Postdoctoral: University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests

Dr. Shaffer has 28 years of experience as an active scientist in pulmonary research with special attention to the needs of the neonatal and pediatric populations. Dr. Shaffer's revolutionary work with the use of perfluorochemicals for liquid ventilation for respiratory distress syndrome, blood substitutes and imaging is known world-wide, and he is considered an international expert in this field.

Current Projects

• Delivery of Antioxidant Enzymes & Genes to the Neonatal Lung - The goal of this project is to use perfluorochemical liquids to deliver antioxidant enzymes and gene products too the developing neonatal lung.
• Cardiac Output Monitor for Children's ICU - The focus of this project is evaluate a new method to determine cardiac output and blood volume in the neonatal and pediatric population.
• Vesalet Studies for Thermal Regulation - The focus of this project is to study thermal stability in a neonatal lamb model using the Hill-Rom Versalet.
• NIH Center for Pediatric Research - The focus of this project is train physician/scientists in the area of Pediatric Translational Research. Five target investigators have been identified to develop this program at A.I. duPont Hospital for Children/Nemours Research Institute.

Research Group

• Aaron Chidekel, M.D. - Pulmonologist. Studying the effects of biological interventions on Calu-3 cell preparations.
• Jay Greenspan, M.D. - Neonatologist. Clinical studies on translational research developed in the lung center.
• Thomas Miller, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow. Studying the effects of MMP alterations with inflammation in the deloping lung and airway.
• Cliff Singhaus, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow. Studying the effects of Heliox and iNO inhalation on lung and airway function.
• Polani Ramesh Babu, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow. Studying the effects of biological interventions on Calu-3 cell preparations.
• Tami Sherman, B.S., R.N., MBA - Research Nurse Coordinator. Laboratory manager and clinical co-ordinator
• Tim Cox, B.S., RT - Director Respiratory Therapy, Laboratory and CLinical Studies on translational research.

Selected Publications

Sekins KM, Leeper DB, Hoffman JK, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH: Feasibility of lung cancer hyperthermia using breathable perfluorochemical (PFC) liquids. Part I. Convective hyperthermia. Intl. J Hyperthermia 20(3): 252-277, 2004.

Shaffer TH, Wolfson MR, Panitch HB: Airway structure, function and development in health and disease. Pediatr. Anesth Jan;14(1) 3-14, 2004.

Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH: Liquid ventilation: An adjunct for respiratory management. Pediatr. Anesth. Jan;14(1) 15-23, 2004.

Babu PBR, Chidekel A, Shaffer TH: Protein composition of apical surface fluid from the human airway cell line Calu-3: Effect of ion transport on mediators. Clinica Chimica Acta 347:81-87, 2004.

Greenspan JS, Shaffer TH, Fox WW and AR Spitzer: Assisted Ventilation: Physiologic Implications and Complications. In: Fetal and Neo, Philadelphia natal Physiology, 3rd Edition. Eds: R. Polin, WW Fox, S Abman. WB Saunders, PA. 2004.

Shaffer, TH and MR Wolfson: Liquid Ventilation. In: Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, 3rd Edition. Eds: R. Polin, WW Fox, S Abman. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA. 2004.

Shaffer, TH and MR Wolfson: Upper Airway Structure: Function, Regulation and development. In: Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, 3rd Edition. Eds: R. Polin, WW Fox, S Abman. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA. 2004.

Jeng MJ, Yang SS, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH: Perfluorochemical (PFC) combinations for acute lung injury: An in vitro and in vivo study. Pediatr Res. 53(1):81-88, 2003.

Cox CA, Stavis RL. Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH: Long-term tidal liquid ventilation in premature lambs: Physiologic, biochemical and histological correlates. Biol. Neonate 84:232-242, 2003.

MJ, Rees O, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH: Partial liquid ventilation: Effect of initial dose and redosing strategy in acute lung injury. Pediatr Crit. Care Med. 3(2):163-170, 2003.

Wolfson, MR and TH Shaffer: Liquid Ventilation In: Rudolf's Pediatrics, 21 st Edition Eds. A.M. Rudolf, C.D. Rudolf, N.J. Siegel, G. Lister, and M. Hostetter. Mc Graw-Hill, NY, 2003.

Shaffer TH, Wolfson MR: Liquid Ventilation. In: Neonatal Respiratory Disorders, 2nd Edition. Eds. A. Greenough and A. Milner. Arnold, London, 2002.

Shaffer TH, O Rees, MR Wolfson, JS Greenspan: Liquid Ventilation. In: Neonatology. Eds. A.R Spitzer. McGraw Hill, NY, 2002.

Spitzer AR, Greenspan JS, Fox WW and Shaffer TH: Special Ventilatory Techniques. In: Assisted Ventilation of the Neonate (4th Edition). Eds. J. Goldsmith and E Karotkin, WS Saunders, Philadelphia, 2002.

Mantell LL, Horowitz S, Foust R, Wolfson MR, Cox CA, Shaffer TH, Khullar P, Kazzaz JA, Scott W, Davis JM: Distinct patterns of apoptosis in the lung during liquid ventilation compared to gas ventilation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 283:L31-41, 2002.

Cox CA, Fox WW, Stavis RL, Weis C, Wolfson MR, Shaffer TH: Liquid Ventilation: Gas exchange, perfluorochemical uptake and biodistribution in an acute lung injury model. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 3(3):288-296, 2002.

Foust, R, S Horowitz, JM Davis, J Tierney, C Cox, MR Wolfson, N Kechner, TF Miller, and TH Shaffer: Pulmonary antioxidant enzyme activity during early development: Effect of Ventilation. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2(1): 63-68, 2001.

Miller, TF, BN Milestone, RG Stern, TH Shaffer and MR Wolfson: Effects of perfluorochemical (PFC) distribution and elimination dynamics on cardiopulmonary function. J Appl Physiol. 90: 839-849, 2001.

Jeng MJ, D Trevisanuto, C M Weis, WW Fox, AB Cullen, MR Wolfson, and TH Shaffer: The Role of Ventilation Strategy on Perfluorochemical (PFC) Evaporation from the Lungs. J Appl Physiol. 90(4):1365-1372, 2001.

Nakstad, B, MR Wolfson, H Kalhter , R Lindemann, TH Shaffer, D Fugelseth, and T Lyberg: Perfluorochemical (PFC) liquids modulates cell-mediated inflammatory responses. Crit Care Med. 29(9):1731-1737, 2001.