The levels of Sox9 — a molecule that promotes lung scarring, or fibrosis — are significantly higher in the lungs of both patients and mouse models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) than in those of their healthy counterparts, a study shows. Excessive Sox9 levels were found to promote fibroblasts’ maturation…
Photo courtesy of Shari George Day 26 of 30 This Shari George’s story: “Ma soeur.” Strange how a pet name can become so important, like a code that transmits more than the actual words. French for “my sister,” these words evoke so many memories — and the memories are…
Photo courtesy of Holly Patient Day 25 of 30 This is Holly Patient’s story: I don’t know exactly when my IPF journey began. Was it on that hike, when I felt dizzy and out of breath? Was it that time when I fell skiing and literally could not…
Photo courtesy of Jofac O’Handlin Day 24 of 30 This is Jofac O’Handlin’s story: My story begins when my wife and I each suffered a bout of pneumonia in February 2013. When it came to recovery, Susan came out of it much sooner than I did, and the X-rays…
On Mother’s Day in 2019, I walked into the ICU on the ninth floor of University of California, San Francisco’s Parnassus campus for the last time. It had been a month since my mom, Holly, was discharged from the hospital there after having a bilateral lung transplant. Although I…
Football and science seem to be disparate fields of play at first glance, but the nonprofit Uplifting Athletes is finding common ground by leveraging the popularity of college gridiron games to fund research for rare diseases. Its nearly two dozen chapters — representing college football teams across the nation…
A Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating Endeavor BioMedicines’ experimental oral therapy taladegib (ENV-101) in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has dosed its first patient. The trial (NCT04968574) is enrolling adults, ages 40 and older, with mild-to-moderate IPF at one Australian site, with at least three more…
Photo courtesy of Tracey Harms Day 23 of 30 This is Joan Ciccarelli’s story: My name is Joan Ciccarelli. I am 83 years old and have lived with IPF for at least 12 years. I have tried everything possible to help myself and my well-being. These days, I…
Photo courtesy of Rand O’Brien Day 22 of 30 This is Rand O’Brien’s story: It started when I began feeling short of breath when I reached my third-floor office. I thought it might be my heart since two years prior, I’d had two stents put in. But after my…
For Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, held each September, the biopharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim Canada has created the Life with PF campaign to help patients better understand the stages of this progressive disease and to empower them to obtain much-needed care. The initiative, which is aimed at…
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