Chronic Lung Disease
Chronic lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency are devastating problems associated with decreased quality of life, significant illness, and loss of life.
As part of the Center, leaders in the field are coming together to make a difference in the lives of those affected by conduction laboratory and clinical research which can be translated into multidisciplinary state-of-the-art clinical care.
For those with limited medical options, new advances in research and patient care are also being made by our experts within one of the world's largest and most experienced transplant centers.
Subspecialty Program Leaders:
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Lung Transplant
Acute Respiratory Failure & Critical Care
Acute lung injury can ultimately lead to chronic conditions and to acute respiratory failure. Understanding the causes and cascade of events involved in acute lung injury is essential for developing prevenative measures and treatments to reduce lung injury.
CLSH and the Critical Care Center of Excellence are working together to provide on-going education and training to ensure that trainees, investigators and other professionals are trained in or actively informed about new developments to improve care of patients with acute lung injury, respiratory failure and best practices in other aspects of critical care medicine.
Program Leaders:
Asthma & Allergy
Asthma and allergy are world-wide problems that the University is addressing through international collaborations. Through nationally-funded research, our experts are identifying genes responsible for the development of asthma and the allergic response.
Clinical outcomes studies are also being conducted testing the efficacy of new drugs that hold tremendous promise for enhanced patient care. On the educational front, the Programis actively involved in providing professionaltraining for the next generation.
Program Leader:
Sleep Medicine
Although poor sleep quality can be attributed to a variety of factors, several million people suffer from chronic sleep deprivation due to breathing difficulties. While considerable progress has recently been made in diagnostics of sleep-related breathing disorders, there is still much to learn about this complex field of study.
Rising evidence links sleep disorders with decreased health and wellness as well as increased disease severity and even death. Interdisciplinary interactions between experts will lead to a better understanding of sleep and its relationship to overall health.
Program Leader:
Lung Cancer
While great strides have been made in treatment of various cancers, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer–related death and is on the rise in the U.S. A focus on preventative measures along with new treatments and earlier diagnoses is needed to reduce lung cancer and increase survivorship.
The CLSH is working with the University of Minnesota Cancer Center to help intensify the research, education and outreach required to reduce the increasing toll of lung cancer.
Program Leaders:
Lung Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Lung disease is one of the top three killers in America. A key area of focus for the Center is to promote lung health and disease prevention. Genetics is often an important susceptibility factor in the development of lung disease, but scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that environment and lifestyle choices often have a significant impact. A key area of focus for the Center is to promote lung health and disease prevention by learning more about specific causes and teaching others how to help prevent and manage lung disease. Several patient-focused educational seminars are hosted by the Center each year to provide information and to encourage lifestyle changes that positively impact lung health. Further collaborations are planned to expand the Center’s reach throughout the region.
The Center has partnered with the University’s Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center and the Cancer Center to bring a clinical component to smoking cessation initiatives. In addition, partnerships with experts in occupational and environmental health from the School of Public Health as well as complementary medicine within the Center for Spirituality and Healing and other areas are working with the Center to address the full range of issues associated with lung disease.
Program Leaders
- Occupational and Environmental Lung Exposures
- Tobacco Cessation & Control
- Complementary Medicine & Lifestyles
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