Dr. Thorne's research expertise includes the development of aerosol-based techniques for delivering therapeutic agents and gene therapy vectors to the lung, as well as studies of innate immune responses to inhaled biological materials. His laboratory plays a supporting role in the UI Center for Gene Therapy by providing animal models and exposure methodology to explore gene delivery via the lung. The facility is one of the premier pulmonary toxicology facilities in the world and is exceptionally well equipped to assess aerosol delivery and gene therapy by inhalation. His research extends to evaluate disease processes, drug delivery and efficacy of therapies for a wide variety of pulmonary diseases including CF, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, EVALI, sarcoidosis, ARDS, silicosis/asbestosis, lung cancer, and others.