Dr. Alexander Hillel is a Laryngologist and Airway Surgeon in the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. He received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. After completing residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Hillel completed a Laryngology fellowship at the Emory Voice Center. His clinical practice and research centers on the treatment, prevention, and causes of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS).
Dr. Hillel’s laboratory developed robust in vitro and in vivo model systems to study immunologic and metabolic mechanisms that promote LTS. We demonstrated that fibroblasts from LTS patients have an abnormal metabolism with a Warburg-like physiology and showed that T-lymphocytes are critical in disease initiation and progression. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, we identified the mTOR-inhibitor rapamycin as a potential therapy for LTS. Lastly, we developed a novel drug-eluting stent for treating LTS in mice and ongoing efforts center on translating immunologic and metabolic inhibition as a therapy for LTS patients.
Dr. Hillel is a council member of the American Broncho-Esophagological Association and serves on the leadership team of the North American Airway Collaborative (NoAAC) which is an international organization dedicated to improving our understanding of adult airway disease and developing effective, cost-conscious treatments.
