Background and Research Focus
The mission of the Translational Lung Research Program (TLRP) is to enable high quality studies spanning the gap from bench to bedside and back again. A particular strength of Yale’s PCCSM section has always been murine modeling of chronic lung disease. However, a human correlate is required to fully grasp the significance of the groundbreaking work done in our basic science labs. It was to fill this need that Dr. Herzog obtained a small seed grant from the YCCI in 2007 and started enrolling subjects. The program initially focused on interstitial lung disease (ILD) and since that time over 250 subjects with ILD have been enrolled and phenotyped.
These efforts have led to novel insights into the immunopathogenesis of several forms of lung fibrosis including the relationship of Semaphorin 7a and Chitinase-1 to scleroderma-related lung fibrosis and the potential role of profibrotic monocytes in IPF. They have also allowed the development of novel lung-based bioengineering techniques that have the potential to revolutionize the study of human lung biology. Our work has been published in such high impact journals as Science, Arthritis and Rheumatism, Journal of Immunology, and AJRCCM. Our success has been recognized by the NIH as evidenced by our involvement with national efforts including the NIH sponsored MAPGEN and GRADS research consortiums. The program, which now supports nearly all PCCSM research programs including those studying pulmonary vascular disease, sarcoidosis, Medical Intensive Care Unit, (MICU), Thoracic interventional program (TIP), and COPD, was designated an official PCCSM program in 2012.
Our goal is simple: create a research structure that unites clinical scientists with their basic science counterparts to foster studies that will allow novel insights into human disease. Recognizing the challenges inherent in this process, the TLRP is founded on the following three principles:
These efforts have led to novel insights into the immunopathogenesis of several forms of lung fibrosis including the relationship of Semaphorin 7a and Chitinase-1 to scleroderma-related lung fibrosis and the potential role of profibrotic monocytes in IPF. They have also allowed the development of novel lung-based bioengineering techniques that have the potential to revolutionize the study of human lung biology. Our work has been published in such high impact journals as Science, Arthritis and Rheumatism, Journal of Immunology, and AJRCCM. Our success has been recognized by the NIH as evidenced by our involvement with national efforts including the NIH sponsored MAPGEN and GRADS research consortiums. The program, which now supports nearly all PCCSM research programs including those studying pulmonary vascular disease, sarcoidosis, Medical Intensive Care Unit, (MICU), Thoracic interventional program (TIP), and COPD, was designated an official PCCSM program in 2012.
Our goal is simple: create a research structure that unites clinical scientists with their basic science counterparts to foster studies that will allow novel insights into human disease. Recognizing the challenges inherent in this process, the TLRP is founded on the following three principles:
- Collaboration: The TLRP Bringing together basic and clinical scientists who might otherwise not interact to foster scientific exploration and hypothesis generation
- Practical support: The TLRP core facility supports all aspects of translational research including patient enrollment and informed consent, sample procurement, processing, storage, assay performance and analysis, database support , and data management.
- Education:The TLRP offers hands on training in important aspects of translational research including study design, HIC and regulatory issues, statistical considerations, data management, and demystifying laboratory techniques
Current Projects
Discovery of pathogenic mechanisms and biomarkers in:
- Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Malignant and nonmalignant Pleural Effusion
- Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) patients
- Pulmonary Vascular Disease