UT Tyler Faculty Member Presents Novel Discovery on Lung Disorder
July 16, 2025 | Elizabeth Wingfield
The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine Assistant Professor Dr. Shiva Keshava Gaddam B. delivered a conference presentation about pleural fibrosis, a type of scarring affecting
the lining around the lungs.
This condition can be caused by damage to the chest or lungs, including tuberculosis, radiation therapy and chest trauma, and can cause difficulty breathing, chronic chest pain and long-term disability. The research suggests that extracellular vesicles, tiny nano-sized particles that cells use to communicate, could play a role in causing lung scarring, which could lead to potential treatments in the future.
“This discovery is an outstanding example of the kind of research happening at UT Tyler—scientific innovation grounded in real-world impact,” said Dr. Torry Tucker, School of Medicine Associate Dean for Research. “Dr. Gaddam’s work offers critical insight into a condition that affects thousands, and we are proud to see it recognized on an international stage.”
Gaddam presented a poster presentation of the study at the Congress of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and received a Top Poster Award, placing it within the top 3% of presentations at the event. The study summarizing the research, “Extracellular Vesicles Contribute to the Pathophysiology and Progression of Pleural Fibrosis by Promoting MesoMT and Neo-Angiogenesis,” was recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
“Pleural fibrosis can severely affect a person’s ability to breathe and perform everyday tasks, yet many of the underlying drivers remain poorly understood,” said Gaddam. “Our research highlights the role of extracellular vesicles in advancing this disease, opening up new possibilities for diagnosis and future treatment.”
Gaddam joined the UT Tyler Health Science Center in 2009. He has since obtained two patents, published 40 papers with colleagues and participated in 15 conference presentations. His research focuses on pleural fibrosis and lung injury, thrombosis and coagulation pathways, and extracellular vesicles in disease progression.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.