Email

flam@bcm.edu

Positions

Associate Professor

Pediatrics-Critical Care
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX US

WOC

Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Addresses

Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases (Lab)

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
2002 Holcombe Blvd. (MS 151)
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 791-1414
flam@bcm.edu

Texas Children’s Hospital (Clinic)

6651 Main Street
Legacy Tower
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone: (832) 826-6230
flam@bcm.edu

Education

MD from University Of Texas Southwestern Medical School

01/2003 - Dallas, TX United States

BA from University of Texas

Austin, Texas United States

Internship at Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, TX

Pediatrics

Residency at Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, TX

Pediatrics

Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, TX

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

Certifications

General Pediatrics

American Academy of Pediatrics

General Pediatrics

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

American Academy of Pediatrics

Subspecialty: Critical Care Medicine

Professional Interests

• Neutrophil-platelet-endothelial interactions in inflammation and thrombosis

Professional Statement

RESEARCH: My research interests are in the complex interplay between neutrophils, platelets, and endothelium and how these interactions mediate inflammation and thrombosis. I have focused my research on platelet-neutrophil-endothelial interactions in order to determine novel mechanisms on how these cells interact in different models of inflammation (sepsis, wound injury, and toxin mediated hepatotoxicity and fibrosis). In this current climate of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, research into mechanisms and potential therapies are paramount. As a pediatric intensivist and a member of the Special Isolation Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital, I have a clinical interest in this disease. In our laboratory, we are creating and testing novel compounds to prevent SARS-CoV-2 attachment and inflammation. My laboratory is in the Center for Translation Research on Inflammatory Diseases (CTRID) at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where I actively collaborate with experts in the field of platelet biology, vascular biology, and inflammation. In addition to working with other BCM investigators, I also have developed research collaborations with investigators at the McGovern Medical School (UT Health Sciences Center) and the University of Houston.

CLINICAL: I have many clinical interests revolving around the physiology of critically ill children. One of these interests is in severe sepsis and the interplay between thrombosis and inflammation, where dysregulation of one can lead to dysfunction in the other and both can alter tissue perfusion and lead to organ injury. Additionally, I am a founding member of the Texas Children’s Hospital Liver ICU team, caring for critically ill patients with acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure. Caring for children with liver disease has been a rewarding experience in terms of both the complex physiology as well as the multi-disciplinary teamwork involved in treating them.

EDUCATION: In critical care, understanding the core concepts of normal and abnormal physiology is paramount to the appropriate care of severely ill and injured children. To this end, I have developed our Core and Applied Physiology Curriculum which spans ~23 sessions over the course of the year. I have an interest in effective education and have developed this program with the input of our fellows. We utilize a flipped-classroom approach, combined with peer teaching and small group discussions to allow for a safe, but effective learning environment. Finally, I am passionate about training the next generation of pediatrician-scientists and am the Deputy Director for Scholarly Activities in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. I am also on the Advisory Board of the Texas Children's Hospital Pediatric Scientist Program.

Websites

Selected Publications

• 1. Valladolid C, Martinez-Vargas M, Sekhar N, Lam F, Brown C, Palzkill T, Tischer A, Auton M, Vijayan KV, Rumbaut RE, Nguyen TC, Cruz MA. "Modulating the rate of fibrin formation and clot structure attenuates microvascular thrombosis in systemic inflammation.." Blood Adv.. 2020 April ; 14 (4(7)): 1340-1349. Pubmed PMID: 32259201
• 2. Gorgis NM, Kennedy C, Lam F, Thompson K, Coss-Bu J, Akcan Arikan A, Nguyen T, Hosek K, Miloh T, Karpen SJ, Penny DJ, Goss J, Desai MS. "Clinical Consequences of Cardiomyopathy in Children With Biliary Atresia Requiring Liver Transplantation.." Hepatology. 2019 March ; 69 ((3)): 1206-1218. Pubmed PMID: 30076624
• 3. Lam FW, Da Q, Guillory B, Cruz MA. "Recombinant human vimentin binds to P-selectin and blocks neutrophil capture and rolling on platelets and endothelium.." J Immunol. 2018 March 1; 200 ((5)): 1718-1726. Pubmed PMID: 29335256
• 4. Goldman J, Desai MS, McClain KL, Tcharmtchi MH, Kennedy CE, Thompson K, Lam F, Bashir DA, Chinn IK, Goldberg BR, Allen CE, Nguyen TC. "Hepatobiliary Dysfunction and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Increase Risk of Mortality in Pediatric Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis." Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2018 October ; 19 ((10)): e522-e530. Pubmed PMID: 30113519

Memberships

American Academy of Pediatrics

Society of Critical Care Medicine

Microcirculatory Society

American Heart Association

American Physiological Society

Funding

Utilizing soluble vimentin and its components to attenuate inflammation - #GM123261

(04/01/2017 - 03/31/2022) Grant funding from NIH/NIGMS K08 (PI)

The goal of this study is to determine the mechanisms through which recombinant vimentin attenuates inflammation and to identify the active motifs through which its interactions occur.

Role of Chitinase-3-like-1 (Chi3l1) in Acetaminophen-induced Liver Injury - #DK122708

(09/19/2019 - 08/31/2024) Grant funding from NIH/NIDDK R01 (Co-Investigator)

The goal of this proposal is to define the role of chitinase-3-like-1 (Chi3l1) in hepatic platelet accumulation during acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury (AILI) and to evaluate the potential of targeting Chi3l1 for the treatment of AILI.

Platelets in APAP-Induced Hepatotoxicity

(01/01/2020 - 12/31/2020) Grant funding from Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Core Pilot Award (PI)

The objective of this research is to determine the role of platelets in the progression of APAP-induced liver injury as well as test novel agents to mitigate liver damage.

Enabling Pediatric Leukapheresis with High-Throughput Microfluidic Technology - #HL151858

(04/01/2020 - 03/31/2024) Grant funding from NIH/NHLBI R01 (Co-Investigator)

The goal of this proposal is the development and initial validation of novel microfluidic devices capable of separating white blood cells from whole blood with efficiency and throughput sufficiently high to ultimately enable centrifugation-free leukapheresis in pediatric patients.

Skills

Neutrophil biology

Critical Care Medicine

Platelet biology

Endothelial biology

Intravital microscopy

Microvascular inflammation and thrombosis