Karin Provost DO, PhD
Karin Provost
DO, PhD
Associate Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Immunology; Membrane Transport (Ion Transport); Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
Find this physician on UBMDProfessional Summary:
My clinical responsibilities include working as one of five Intensive Care Unit physicians where I am the Co-Director of Critical Care, and providing Pulmonary consultation at the Buffalo VA Medical Center (Buffalo VAMC). I have also collaboratively established 3 Centers for Specialized Care in the Pulmonary Medicine outpatient clinic at the UBMD multispecialty practice in Williamsville (and Conventus). These centers include a recognized World Association for Sarcoidosis (WASOG) Clinic for sarcoidosis, that has evolved into a formal consortium with referrals to the needed experts when organs other than the lung become involved in sarcoidosis, a Center for Specialized care in Interstitial Lung Disease with Dr. Kristopher Clark, and a Center for Specialized Care in Neuromuscular Diseases (ALS, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy and others).
My outpatient clinic accepts all patients, but with a focus on neuromuscular respiratory failure, interstitial lung disease (associated with collagen vascular disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]), scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, Sarcoidosis, the idiopathic pulmonary pneumonitis syndromes (IPF/UIP).
My research has three tenants, and dovetails with my clinical expertise. My translational research is focused on understanding the impaired immune response to infection that occurs in patients with COPD and improving quality of life. This impaired immune response leads to more frequent disease exacerbations and more rapid disease progression. My lab has optimized a noninvasive macrophage model (monocyte-derived macrophage) to study how to restore the immune function of alveolar macrophages in patients with COPD. Using this model, we study cell surface receptor expression, cytokine responses and intracellular signaling using flow cytometry, bead arrays and molecular biology techniques. We are now also working with our UBMD colleagues in Palliative Medicine, to explore the impact of a structured palliative program on patient reported quality of life, as well as systemic inflammatory markers and functional status.
Through the Center for Specialized Care in Neuromuscular Disorders, our research is starting to better understand the barriers to effective use of respiratory assistive devices in ALS, and to determine modifiable risks associated with procedural sedation. Our Sarcoidosis Consortium is starting to establish a clinical research program.
My research team collaborates with Dr. Sanjay Sethi, Dr. Kristopher Clark, Dr. M. Jeffrey Mador and other researchers in the areas of Pulmonary, Sleep Medicine, Critical Care, Infectious disease, Neurology and Cardiology. Undergraduates, medical students, residents and fellows are welcome to consider a project in either my research lab or my clinical research programs.
I am committed to teaching the next generation of physicians at all levels of training. I teach medical students in years two through four, Internal Medicine, Med/Peds, Med/Preventive Med, Neurology and Anesthesia Residents and the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellow trainees who rotate with me on the inpatient and outpatient services. I serve on the Resident Clinical Competency Committee for the Department of Internal Medicine, and as a formal resident advisor, shepherding my mentees through residency and helping them launch their professional careers. My door is always open to any trainee at any level.
In addition to direct bedside, classroom lecture format teaching and mentorship to the trainees, I also speak at the Citywide Grand Rounds at least annually, have provided lectures within the Catholic Health System, speak regionally at the Annual Respiratory Therapy conference, the New York State Thoracic Society. I speak at the national level at the American Thoracic Society and CHEST annual conferences and recently rotated off after serving on the steering committee for Home Mechanical Ventilation in Neuromuscular Disease Network for the American Academy of Chest Physicians (Under the CHEST Sleep Network).
Education and Training:
- PhD, Investigative Medicine, Yale University School of Graduate Studies (2010)
- Fellowship, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Yale University School of Medicine (2006)
- Residency, Categorical Internal Medicine, George Washington University Hospital (2002)
- Internship, Categorical Internal Medicine, George Washington University Hospital (2000)
- DO, Medicine, Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (1999)
- BS, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Cum Laude (1995)
Employment:
- Co-Director, Center for Specialized Care in Intersitial Lung Disease, Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo Physicians Group, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2025-present)
- Clinical Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo (2019-present)
- Director, Adult Neuromuscular Respiratory Disease, Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo Physicians Group, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2018-present)
- Director, Center for Specialized Care in Sarcoidosis, Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University at Buffalo Physicians Group, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2018-present)
- Co-Chair, ALS Team, Internal Medicine-Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, VA Western New York Healthcare System at Buffalo (2016-present)
- Co-Director, Critical Care, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, VA Western New York Healthcare System at Buffalo (2013-present)
- Research Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2008-present)
Awards and Honors:
- President's Gold Volunteer Service Award (2024)
- Steven H. Noyes, MD Faculty Award (2017)
- F. Carter Pannill Jr MD Outstanding Teaching Award to Junior Faculty (2011)
- American Thoracic Society Fellows Career Development Award (2007)
- Ruth L. Kirshstein National Service Award (2005)
- Undergraduate Summer Research Program (1994)
- Golden Key National Honor Society (1993)
- Alpha Epsilon Delta (1993)
Research Expertise:
- Characterization of alveolar macrophages in COPD and impact of inhaled corticosteroids on function
- Clinical Investigator- Clinical COPD intervention trials
- Clinical Investigator-Clinical trials in ILD
- Host immunity in COPD
Research Centers:
- Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- October 2026–October 2026
a 2-part first in human study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of CMTX-101, an anti-DNABII monoclonal antibody in hospitalized subjeccts with suspected or confirmed community acquired pneumonia
Clarametyx
Role: Principal Investigator - January 2023–December 2024
A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group phase 3 study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of SAR440340/REGN3500/itepekimab in patients with moderate to severe COPD
Sanofi
Role: Principal Investigator - December 2020–December 2021
Master protocol assessing the safety, tolerability and efficacy of anti-spike SARS-CoV2 monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19
Regeneron
Role: Principal Investigator - January 2017–December 2018
ASN-100-201: a phase 2 randomized double blind placebo controlleds tudy to determine the safety and efficacy of a single dose of ASN100 for the prevention of Staphylococcal aureus pneumonia
Arsanis
Role: Co-Investigator - November 2013–December 2013
ASPIRE Young Investigator AwardDefining the Epidemiologic Burden of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Colonization and Infection in COPD
Pfizer
Role: Principal Investigator
$100,000 - May 2011–May 2013
VA Cooperative Study No. 574ESCAPe [Extended Steroid (in) CAP(e)]
Veterans Administration
Role: Co-Investigator - April 2011–April 2013
Defining the Mechanisms of the Increased Risk of Community Acquired Pneumonia in COPD Patients Treated with Inhaled Corticosteroids
Astra Zeneca
Role: Principal Investigator
$218,880 - December 2010–December 2012
Defining a Role for Inhaled Calcium in Augmenting the Alveolar Macrophage Innate Immune Response to Infection in COPD
Pulmatrix
Role: Principal Investigator
$115,200 - July 2009–June 2012
A six month Randomized Controlled Trial of Lung Flute in Patients with COPD
Medical Acoustics, Inc
Role: Co-Investigator
$210,000 - September 2007–September 2008
American Thoracic Society Fellows Career Development Award
American Thoracic Society
Role: Co-Investigator
$50,000 - August 2005–August 2007
F32 Ruth L. Kirshstein National Research Service Award
NIH/ NHLBI
Role: Co-Investigator
$50,000 - July 2003–July 2005
T32 Institutional National Research Service Award
NIH/ NHLBI
Role: Co-Investigator - October 2026
A double-sided extension study to evaluate the long term safety and tolerability of itepekimab in patients with COPD who participated in either EFC 16750 or EFC 16819
Sanofi
Role: Principal Investigator - Cooperative Studies Trial #2042: PROTECT-VA Pragmatic RSV Revaccination and Observational Trial for Effectiveness and Comparison of Timing – a Veterans Health Administration study
Veterans Affairs
Role: Principal Investigator
Journal Articles:
- Williamson J, Edd T, Perez G, Provost K. (2025) Perioperative and Peripartum Management of Patients with Neuromuscular Disease. Seminars in respiratory and critical care medicine (Jun), 46(3): 264-280.
- Mehak Swami DO and Karin Provost DO, PhD. (2023) Mitigating the impact of breathlessness in COPD: can a structured specialty palliative care intervention fill in the gap in our treatment algorithms?. Medical Research Archives, European Society of Medicine (Feb)(February 2023)
- Hilda M. Metjian MD and Karin Provost DO, PhD. (2022) Respiratory Therapy in Neuromuscular Disorders. Practical Neurology (Jul)(July/August)
- Kraskovsky V, Schneider J, Mador MJ, Provost KA, Provost K. (2019) Longer Duration of Palliative Care in Patients With COPD Is Associated With Death Outside the Hospital. J Palliat Care (Jul)8258597198-8258597198.
- Provost KA, Smith M, Miller-Larsson A, Gudleski GD, Sethi S, Provost K. (2019) Bacterial regulation of macrophage bacterial recognition receptors in COPD are differentially modified by budesonide and fluticasone propionate. PLoS One (Jan), 14(1): 0207675-0207675.
- Provost K, Frederick CA, Sethi S. (2017) Bacterial infection. Acute Exacerbations of Pulmonary Diseases (ERS Monograph), European Respiratory Society (Jan).
- Provost KA, Smith M, Arold SP, Hava DL, Sethi S. (2015) Calcium Restores the Macrophage Response to Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol (Jun), 52(6): 728-737.
- Mitchell C, Provost K, Niu N, Homer R, Cohn L. (2011) IFN-γ acts on the airway epithelium to inhibit local and systemic pathology in allergic airway disease. J Immunol (Oct), 187(7): 3815-3820.
- Schwartz KA, Lanciloti NJ, Moore MK, Campione AL, Chandar N, Provost K. (1999) p53 transactivity during in vitro osteoblast differentiation in a rat osteosarcoma cell line. Mol Carcinog (Jun), 25(2): 132-138.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Silvestri NJ, Provost K, Sheehan DW. (2018) In: "Neuromuscular Respiratory Failure". Demos Medical Publishing/Springer Publishing, 145-162.
- Provost K Desai H Sethi S. (2013) Smoking and Lung Inflammation: Basic, Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research Advances. In: Infectious Mechanisms Regulating Susceptibility to AECOPD.
- Provost K, El Solh AA. (2012) Principles and Practice of Mechanical Ventilation. In: Complications Associated with Mechanical Ventilation. McGraw-Hill
Abstracts:
- Provost K, Sahib K. (2019) Peri-procedural Monitoring of Vital Capacity to Risk Stratify Noninvasive Ventilation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients Undergoing Gastrostomy Placement. American Thoracic Society International Conference, (May)
- Zoltan Magyarics1, Karin Provost2, Nimrod Adi3, Tomasz Czarnik4, Khatuna Japaridze5, Nikoloz Kartisivadze6, Mikhail Kirov7, Ed Campanaro8, Matthew Goodwin8, Lori Muir8, Marin Kollef9, Chris Stevens8. (2019) Results of a Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Determine the Safety and Efficacy of a Single Dose of the Monoclonal Antibody Combination ASN100 for the Prevention of Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia in Endotracheal Heavily Col. European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, (Apr)
- Karin A. Provost DO,PhD, Miyuki Smith, Anna Miller-Larsson PhD, Gregory D. Gudleski PhD, Sanjay Sethi MD. (2016) Bacterial Receptor Reductions May Explain COPD CAP. European Respiratory Society Annual Conference, London, England, (Sep)
- Karin A. Provost DO,PhD, Miyuki Smith, Anna Miller-Larsson PhD, Gregory D. Gudleski PhD, Sanjay Sethi MD . (2016) Bacterial regulation of pathogen recognition receptors in macrophages in COPD are differentially modified by budesonide and fluticasone propionate ex vivo. American Thoracic Society International Conference, San Francisco, CA, (May)
- Kraskovsky V., Smith M., Sethi S, Provost K. (2016) Differences in COPD blood monocyte populations do not affect maturation to mature tissue macrophage by ex-vivo GMCSF. ATS International Conference, San Francisco, CA, (May)
- Provost K, Smith M., Mohan A., Sahib K., Conway S., Sethi S. (2015) The Epidemiologic Burden of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Colonization and Infection in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. ATS International Conference, Denver, CO, (May)
- Provost K, Smith M., Kaushal G., Arold S.P., Hava D.L., Sethi S. (2012) Extracellular Calcium During Bacterial Challenge Augments The Innate Immune Response Of Monocyte Derived Macrophages. ATS International Conference, San Francisco, CA, (May)
Professional Memberships:
- Society for Clinical and Translational Science; Member (2010–present)
- American College of Chest Physicians; Fellow (2009–present)
- Society of Critical Care Medicine; member (2003–2008)
- American College of Chest Physicians; Member (2002–2008)
- American Thoracic Society; Member (2002–present)
Presentations:
- "Advances in Mechanical Airway Clearance" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2020)
- "Advances in the Management of Chronic Respiratory Failure Syndromes: State of the Art Noninvasive Ventilation and Mechanical Airway Clearance" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2020)
- "Camping, Sport and Travel: Maintaining Quality of Life by Implementation of Non-invasive ventilation by Disease Stage" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2020)
- "State of the Art in Respiratory Care of Neuromuscular Disease From Pediatric to Adult: Living Longer and Living Better" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2020)
- "The Sarcoidologist: The Ship Needs a Captain" New York State Thoracic Society (2020)
- "Advances in the Respiratory Evaluation and Management of ALS" American College of Chest Physicans(CHEST) Annual Conference (2019)
- "Implementation of NIPPV and Airway Clearance Devices by Disease Stage" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2019)
- "Improving Quality of Life and Survival in Neuromuscular Respiratory Failure" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2019)
- "Management of Neuromuscular Respiratory Failure Syndromes: NIPPV For Day, Night and the Soccer Field" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2019)
- "Neuromuscular Respiratory Failure from Adolescence to Adulthood: Improving Survival and Quality of Life" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2018)
- "Neuromuscular Respiratory Failure: Improving Quality of Life and Survival with NIPPV" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2018)
- "Respiratory Failure in ALS: The VA as a Leader in Team Based Approach to Care" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2018)
- "Sarcoidologist: The Ship Needs a Captain" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2018)
- "Respiratory Failure in Neuromuscular Disorders: It's Not Game Over Anymmore" Western New York Regional Respiratory Therapy Symposium; New York State Society for Respiratory Care (2018)
- "Airway Pressure Release Ventilation: The Holy Grail?" Western New York Regional Respiratory Therapy Symposium; New York State Society for Respiratory Care (2016)
- "Immunodeficiency and Adult Lung Disease: Identification, Diagnosis and Management" American Thoracic Society International Conference (2016)
- "Immunodeficiency and Adult Lung Disease: Identification, Diagnosis and Management" American Thoracic Society International Conference; ; Sunrise Seminar (2015)
- "The Epidemiologic Burden Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Colonization And Infection In Chronic Obstructive PulmonaryDisease" American Thoracic Society Annual Conference (2015)
- "2013 “Extracellular calcium Augments the Innate Immune Response of Monocyte Derived Macrophages in Patients with COPD By Augmenting Pattern Recognition Receptor Expression" American Thoracic Society Annual Conference (2013)
- "Extracellular Calcium During Bacterial Challenge Augments the Innate Immune Response of Monocyte Derived Macrophages" American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting; American Thoracic Society; Clinical Problems Assembly (2012)
- "IFN-Gamma Inhibits Goblet Cell Differentiation" Annual Meeting; American Thoracic Society (2011)
- "Interferon Gamma acts on the Airway Epithelium to Regulate Allergic Airway Inflammation" Annual Meeting; American Thoracic Society (2010)
- "Interferon Gamma Inhibits Th2 Induced Mucus Metaplasia in vivo Through Effects on Epithelial IL-4 and IL-13 Receptor Expression, and Inhibition of Stat-6 Phosphorylation" Annual Meeting; American Thoracic Society (2010)
- "Interferon Gamma Modulates Allergic Airway Disease through Effects on the Airway Epithelium" Keystone Symposia; ; Immunology, Allergy and Asthma (2009)
- "Interferon Gamma Inhibits Mucus, Esoinophilia and Chitinase Activity by Multiple Different Mechanisms" Annual Meeting; American Thoracic Society (2005)
- "Formal Resident Central Line Procedure Training Increases Confidence and Knowledge in Internal Medicine Housestaff" Annual Meeting; Society of General Internal Medicine (2002)
- "Elucidating a Role for p53 in Bone Differentiation and a Potential role in the Treatment of Osteosarcoma" Annual Meeting; American Association of Cancer Researchers (1997)
Service Activities:
- CHEST Network on Home Mechanical Ventilation- American College of Chest Physicians; Member (2019–present)
- Early Career Professionals Working Group- American Thoracic Society Clinical Problems Assembly; Co-Chair (2019–present)
- Residency Advisory Committee; Member (2016–present)
- Editorial Board Member OMICS Group, Journal of Occupational Medicine and Health Affairs; Editorial Board Member (2012–present)
- Project Review Committee Review Scientific Merit of research proposals submitted to the VAWNY Research Program; Peer Reviewer (2012–present)
- American Thoracic Society Program Committee, Clinical Problems Assembly Programming for the American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting. Including review and rating of all abstracts submitted, review of session topic submissions and planning of selected abstracts into educational sessions; Member (2012–2018)
- Scientific Proposal Committee; Member (2012–present)
- Journal Reviewer British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research; Peer Reviewer (2012–present)
- Journal Reviewer Journal of Hospital Medicine; Peer Reviewer (2012–present)
- Journal Reviewer Reviewer, Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews; Peer Reviewer (2012–present)
- Journal Reviewer The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal; Peer Reviewer (2011–present)
- Institutional Review Board Reviewing research proposals for safety and scientific integrity; Member (2010–2015)
- Institutional Review Board; Member (2010–2015)
- Transfusion Committee; Member (2010–present)
- Faculty Advisor Faculty advisor to Internal Medicine residents. Meet with them annually to review rotation evaluations, 360 evaluations, in-service exam scores. Review career plans, provide guidance on fellowship acquisition, transition between intern and resident mode and from resident to attending. Provide research guidance, identify research mentors, resolve career and personal issues as they arise throughout the residency training.; Advisor (2009–present)
- Housestaff Evaluation Committee Review each individual resident bi-annually for appropriate progression and advancement based on rotation reviews, 360 evaluations, inservice exam scores; Committee Member (2009–present)
- Curriculum Committee; Member (2009–present)
- ICU Committee; Chair (2008–present)
- Vascular Access Device Working Group; Member (2008–2009)
- Graduate Medical Education Committee; Member (2003–2005)
- Clinical Competency Committee; Member