As a renowned pulmonology program, expert physician-scientists are driving high-quality research for patients with complex respiratory illnesses. Amid multiple groundbreaking studies and innovative treatments, learn how the pulmonology team at Riley Children’s Health is setting the standard for pediatric research
Personalized medicine for severe asthma
Benjamin Gaston, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist and physician-scientist at Riley Children’s, heads a prestigious $12 million, five-year program project grant (P01) funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The project, Scientific Innovation for Personalized Severe Asthma Management, focuses on developing a personalized therapy for severe asthma, where three key subjects are analyzed–S-nitrosylation signaling, airway pH regulation and androgen signaling.
“In personalized medicine lies the power to get it right the first time,” Dr. Gaston said. “The hope is that our current work will, in the not-too-distant future, enable us to use biomarkers and genetic information to determine if any of these three therapeutic arms are an ideal fit for the individual being tested.”
Infant pulmonary function testing
As a pediatric pulmonologist, Robert Tepper, MD, PhD, has been instrumental in studying lung function in infants. His research, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, introduced innovative techniques, such as rapid compression and pulmonary diffusion capacity, which allow for more precise and early detection of respiratory illnesses in younger patients. These successful advancements have made it possible to quantify lung function in infants and toddlers during both routine monitoring and acute interventions. These methods have also been used as outcomes for translational research studies that evaluate the therapeutic effect of interventions early in life to improve the trajectories of lung growth and development.
Tailored therapy for cystic fibrosis
Don B. Sanders, MD, MS, a pediatric pulmonologist at Riley Children’s, heads the STOP PEDS RCT study to assess the management of pulmonary exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Enrolling 121 participants aged six to 18 years at 10 U.S. CF centers, the study analyzed if tailored therapy, involving increased airway clearance with oral antibiotics added only for specific criteria, could reduce antibiotic exposure.
“Caregivers often voice concerns about the long-term impacts of antibiotics, especially in the era of highly effective CFTR modulators,” Dr. Sanders said. “This study will hopefully provide valuable insights into the possibility of avoiding antibiotics for mild respiratory symptoms in children with CF.”
Research in obesity-related asthma, “omics” technologies and inclusive standards
Pediatric pulmonologist and physician-scientist Erick Forno, MD, MPH, leads NHLBI-funded research to learn why obesity may lead to asthma severity and outcomes, and what can be done to improve treatment in patients with obesity-related asthma. Reviewing existing and emerging treatments, findings proved there are viable methods, such as metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists and biologics, that might show promise for obesity-related asthma. As a result, there is a need to conduct more research around these treatments to better understand this population.
Another area of Dr. Forno’s research explores gene expression and other “omics” technologies as clinical and treatment response biomarkers in children with cystic fibrosis, asthma and other diseases. In collaboration with engineering investigators, Dr. Forno conducts this research funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the NHLBI to develop a smartphone-based technology to measure lung function and aid in disease diagnosis called AWARE (Acoustic Waveform Respiratory Evaluation).
Dr. Forno also drives research to evaluate switching from race-specific to race-neutral spirometry equations to assess lung function in patients. The analysis of 24,000 pediatric spirometry tests showed that race-neutral equations reveal significant changes in test results for African American and Black children. Overall findings confirm race-neutral spirometry equations should be used when testing for and treating lung diseases in children, especially those from underrepresented groups.
Learn more about pediatric pulmonology
In driving high-impact research and innovation, the pulmonology program at Riley Children’s offers unmatched care for children with respiratory conditions. Evident in its multiple studies led by a team of expert physician-scientists, children are always benefiting from the foremost pediatric pulmonology care.
