Maria Trojanowska, PhD

Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Trojanowska’s research is aimed at understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate ECM synthesis in healthy tissues and in pathological conditions such as fibrosis and tumorigenesis. The majority of her studies focus on the pathogenesis of scleroderma, an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular abnormalities and a prominent fibrosis of the skin. Her laboratory uses molecular and cellular approaches and various experimental models to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for uncontrolled ECM deposition and vessel degeneration in scleroderma. The second area of investigation is related to activation of tumor stroma. These studies examine the molecular mechanisms that mediate controlled regulation of ECM turnover in healthy connective tissue and are responsible for dysregulation of this process during tumorigenesis. Recent studies together with Dr. Lafyatis are examining the role of ER stress in systemic sclerosis.

Publications

  • Published 4/1/2025

    Abraham DJ, Black CM, Denton CP, Distler JHW, Domsic R, Feghali-Bostwick C, Gourh P, Hinchcliff M, Kolling F, Kuwana M, Lafyatis R, Landegren U, Mahoney JM, Martin J, Matucci-Cerinic M, McMahan ZH, Mora AL, Mouthon L, Rabinovitch M, Rojas M, Rubin K, Trojanowska M, Varga J, Whitfield ML, Gabrielli A, Krieg T. Publisher Correction: An international perspective on the future of systemic sclerosis research. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2025 Apr; 21(4):249. PMID: 40032952.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/14/2025

    Abraham DJ, Black CM, Denton CP, Distler JHW, Domsic R, Feghali-Bostwick C, Gourh P, Hinchcliff M, Kolling F, Kuwana M, Lafyatis R, Landegren U, Mahoney JM, Martin J, Matucci-Cerinic M, McMahan ZH, Mora AL, Mouthon L, Rabinovitch M, Rojas M, Rubin K, Trojanowska M, Varga J, Whitfield ML, Gabrielli A, Krieg T. An international perspective on the future of systemic sclerosis research. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2025 Mar; 21(3):174-187. PMID: 39953141.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/25/2025

    Li P, Liu L, Halushka PV, Trojanowska M, Wang G, Ergul A, Fan H. Pericytes mediate neuroinflammation via Fli-1 in endotoxemia and sepsis in mice. Inflamm Res. 2025 Jan 25; 74(1):28. PMID: 39862276.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/26/2024

    Awaji K, Shibata S, Koyama A, Yamamoto T, Fukui Y, Toyama S, Omatsu J, Norimatsu Y, Ikawa T, Watanabe Y, Miyagawa T, Yamashita T, Nakayama Y, Trojanowska M, Sato S, Asano Y. Impact of Fli1 deletion on B cell populations: A focus on age-associated B cells and transcriptional dynamics. J Dermatol Sci. 2025 Feb; 117(2):19-29. PMID: 39818445.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/7/2024

    Yamashita T, Kaplan U, Chakraborty A, Marden G, Gritli S, Roh D, Bujor A, Trojanowski M, Ligresti G, Browning JL, Trojanowska M. ERG Regulates Lymphatic Vessel Specification Genes and Its Deficiency Impairs Wound Healing-Associated Lymphangiogenesis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024 Nov; 76(11):1645-1657. PMID: 38965683.

    Read at: PubMed

Other Positions

  • Director , Arthritis & Autoimmune Diseases Research Center
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center
    Boston University
  • Member, Pulmonary Center
    Boston University
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University
  • Member, Genome Science Institute
    Boston University
  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Education

  • Polish Academy of Sciences, PhD
  • University of Warsaw, MSc