Filip Swirski, PhD
img_Filip Swirski
PROFESSOR | Medicine, Cardiology
PROFESSOR | Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology
PROFESSOR | Immunology & Immunotherapy
Research Topics
Alzheimer's Disease, Autoimmunity, B Cells, Blood, Brain, Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation, Cardiovascular, Cellular Immunity, Chemokines, Chemotaxis, Cytokines, Dendritic Cells, Endocrinology, Hematopoiesis, Immunology, Inflammation, Lung, Lymphocytes, Macrophage, Microglia, Pathology, Sleep Medicine, Stem Cells, Stress, Systems Biology, T Cells, Transgenic Mice, Viruses and Virology
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Immunology [IMM], Microbiology [MIC], Neuroscience [NEU]

Dr. Swirski obtained his PhD at McMaster University in Canada and postdoctoral studies at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Swirski was Professor at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital before joining Mount Sinai in 2021. Dr. Swirski’s research focuses on innate immunity and inflammation in cardiovascular disease. He uses in vivo models of acute and chronic inflammation relevant to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, with specific emphasis on cell development, communication, and function. Recently, his focus has expanded to include lifestyle factors such as sleep, diet, and stress as critical modulators of cardiovascular health and hematopoiesis.

Hematopoiesis and Growth Factors
Survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic cells it tightly controlled by various cell-specific factors. I discovered a GM-CSF-producing B cell that protect against sepsis and pneumonia. I showed that the growth factor IL-3 aggravates sepsis by eliciting the cytokine storm. I defined a critical role for IL-3 in myocarditis. I demonstrated that T cell output in the thymus relies on liver X receptors.
Systemic Inflammatory Networks and Inter-Organ Communication
Systemic inflammatory networks connect various cardiovascular and metabolic processes. I showed that the spleen produces monocytes by extramedullary hematopoiesis. I provided evidence for the relative contribution of monocyte recruitment and macrophage proliferation atherosclerosis. I identified an on-demand mechanism by which transient monocyte-derived macrophages dispose of erythrocytes and recycle iron. I identified a population of intraepithelial T cells that modulate dietary metabolism and contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Monocytes and Macrophages in Cardiovascular Disease
A major long-standing focus is to understand how monocytes and macrophages participate in atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. I showed that monocytes accumulate continuously in evolving atherosclerotic lesions. I linked atherosclerosis with blood monocytosis. I identified a biphasic monocyte-macrophage response that coordinates healing, and discovered a monocyte reservoir in the spleen. I showed that sleep protects against atherosclerosis by limiting monocyte production.

PhD, McMaster University

Harvard Medical School

2020

ESC William Harvey Lecture on Basic Science

European Society of Cardiology

2019

Tucker Collins Lecture

2018

Leaders in Cardiovascular Science Profile

Circulation Research

2017

Jeffrey M Hoeg Award for Basic Science and Clinical Research

2017

Established Investigator Award

AHA

2016

Patricia and Scott Eston MGH Research Scholar

2016

Outstanding Investigator Award

NIH

2016

Martin Prize for Fundamental Research

2005

Howard M. Goodman Fellowship