A potentially important new study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, identified fibroblast activation protein (FAP) as a crucial factor in collagen fragment clearance in the lungs. Clearing collagen fragments is a key step in reducing tissue scarring and restoring lung function following injury, making FAP an interesting target…
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The University of Cincinnati (UC) Medical Center is among the 19 medical centers recently invited after careful review to become part of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) Care Center Network. The network now comprises 40 centers across 26 U.S. states with established expertise in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis…
In a new study, researchers described the insights and perspectives of patients and caregivers regarding the clinical progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and the needs of both at different disease stages. Their article, titled “The care needs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and their carers (CaNoPy): results of a qualitative…
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., recently announced the initiation of a trial to compare the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of adding pirfenidone (Esbriet) to treatment with OFEV (nintedanib, Boehringer Ingelheim) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF, a type of interstitial lung disease affecting the tissue that supports the…
In a new study, researchers reported a novel role for a receptor at the surface of macrophages (specialized cells of the immune system) in lung fibrosis resolution. The study, titled “TRPV4 Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Regulates LPS-Stimulated Macrophage Phagocytosis,” was published in the…
An analysis of pooled data from three Phase 3 clinical trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients shows that treatment with pirfenidone for one year significantly reduced disease progression. The study, titled “Pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: analysis of pooled data from three multinational phase 3 trials,” was published in…
In a new study, researchers demonstrated the protective effects of vitamin D in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by the chemotherapeutic drug bleomycin. The research paper, entitled “Preventive effects of vitamin D treatment on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis,” was published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. Vitamin…
The University of Virginia Health System (UVA) recently joined the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF)’s Care Center Network, making it one of 19 new facilities chosen after careful peer review for inclusion in this signature PFF program. The PFF Care Center Network now comprises 40 medical centers with expertise in the…
In a recent study in the journal Scientific Reports, a team of researchers demonstrated the use of a new imaging modality that might detect and monitor fibrosis in the lungs of patients with pulmonary disorders and reduce the number of animals required for pulmonary research studies. The cause…
Researchers at the University of Miami (UM), led by Assistant Professor Ashutosh Agarwal, are developing functional organs able to mimic real human organs. These laboratory-developed structures, based on chips, could revolutionize approaches to disease treatment by allowing researchers to peer into organs and their related diseases. The research team used an innovative approach…
