Dr. Daniel Weiss has extensive knowledge and experience in lung repair and regeneration after injury, notably gene and cell therapy approaches for lung diseases. In particular, this has included developing novel techniques with which to investigate and enhance lung gene and cell therapies. His recent published work in cell therapy approaches for lung diseases has included several benchmark publications that have included the first ever trial of cell therapy for emphysema and that have helped define whether exogenous cells can engraft in the lung.

As such, Dr. Daniel Weiss views himself as a translational scientist whose work spans from benchtop to clinical trials. Dr.Weiss has also instituted a biennial meeting held at the University of Vermont, Stem Cells and Cell Therapies in Lung Biology and Diseases, that is widely viewed by the NIH, FDA, and non-profit Respiratory Disease Foundations as the major meeting in the field. Dr.Weiss’s overall goal is to provide a firm scientific basis for clinical application of cell therapies in lung diseases. Dr. Weiss has been funded by the NIH, DOD, non-profit Respiratory Disease Foundations, and by industry sources since 1995. The laboratory's current work is focused in three major areas: 1) Bioengineering approaches for development of functional lung tissue ex vivo; 2) Immunomodulation of lung inflammation by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs); 3) Development of cell therapy-based approaches for lung disease.

In 2020, Dr. Weiss was selected as one of the 11 recipients of the inaugural COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Research Award, working to end COVID-19 and defend against future respiratory virus pandemics. Each awardee is receiving funding to support the exploration of important avenues to reduce the burden of this virus. Specifically, Weiss is examining how the virus damages the epithelial cells lining the lungs. This is a significant issue particularly for those patients who develop severe disease and require admission to intensive care units and need mechanical ventilation.