January 2024
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY – COPDGENE
Dr. Richard Casaburi’s NIH-sponsored study, COPDGene, will embark on Phase 4. This study was initiated in 2007 and enrolled a cohort of more than 10,000 current and former smokers to study COPD subtypes and genetic risk factors. Starting in the 2024 New Year, we will bring back participants originally studied 2008-2011 for their 15 year anniversary visit. Check out this photo from 2008 with Dr. Porszasz, Dr. Casaburi and Mary Burns!
RRC MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Dr. Gattoni is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Lundquist Institute supported by a generous gift from Mr. Alvin Grancell, which was dedicated to training the next generation of respiratory scientists. Chiara obtained her MS in Exercise and Health Sciences from the University of Exeter, UK, and her Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kent, UK). Her Ph.D. focused on investigating effects and mechanisms of cognitive fatigue and sleep deprivation on exercise tolerance, with the aim of developing effective training strategies to improve exercise performance in athletes, military personnel and healthy populations. At the Lundquist she is working with patients with Long-COVID and is designing a study test the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with shortness of breath but normal lung function. Outside the lab, Dr. Gattoni loves travelling, backpacking, playing basketball and canoeing in the ocean. She is also a big Disney fan.
REDONDO BEACH 10K/5K
As champions of respiratory care, we understand the vital role that physical fitness plays in mental and physical wellness. So, what better way to embody our commitment than by collectively participating in a 10K Run/5K Walk in Redondo Beach on Super Bowl Sunday February 11th. Sign up here!
DR. CASABURI’S ARTICLE IN LANCET RESESPIRATORY MEDICINE
Dr. Casaburi and colleagues highlight the global impact of COPD. Their article, published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, emphasizes that although COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide, with over 3 million annual deaths, it remains chronically underdiagnosed. Data show that approximately 15% of US adults exhibit persistent airflow obstruction indicative of COPD, but only a quarter of these receive a formal COPD diagnosis. A 2020 census data suggests that 27M US adults have airflow obstruction, with 19.5M undiagnosed, including 4M with severe and 1M with very severe airflow obstruction. Several factors contribute to under-diagnosis of COPD, including societal stigma and the misconception that only smokers develop COPD. Non-specific symptoms, gradual onset, patients underestimating the severity of their condition and the absence of public policy for screening each hinder identification. Sadly, governmental and private industry research funding for COPD, which could be leveraged to address many of these shortcomings, chronically lags other top 10 causes of mortality. As the authors state, COPD is “hiding in plain sight”. Read the full paper here.
Leave a reply