The University of Toledo

Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship - Research Activities

Research activities within the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine have been strengthened by the establishment of strong ties with investigators of the Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Health, Otolaryngology, Neurology, Physiology & Molecular Medicine, Radiation Therapy, Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, and Environmental Health. These ties have resulted in the establishment of interdisciplinary research grants which provide excellent opportunities for both research and training. Examples include the Center for Environmental Medicine, a $1.4 million Department of Defense Award for studying fundamental mechanisms of inhalation injury, a National Science Foundation Award ($0.5 Million) to study the aerodynamics of airway function; and NIH-RO1 and Program Project grants to investigate genetic alterations of bronchial epithelial cells in response to environmental exposures, and Industry supported projects to study beryllosis and occupational/chronic bronchitis.

A unique aspect of the Division relates to the interdisciplinary activities of the "Biological Fluid Mechanics Unit"; a combination of biological and bioengineering investigators researching various aspects of airway and pulmonary vascular biophysics at University of Toledo and The Oak Ridge National Laboratory lead by UT faculty.

Other active basic science research within the Division relates to genetic predisposition to granulomatous lung diseases (sarcoidosis, TB, beryllosis) and mechanisms of airway inflammation. Current clinical research activities are focused toward use of diagnostic exercise testing, novel treatments for sepsis and ARDS, management of hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension with inhaled nitric oxide, liquid mechanical ventilation, and treatment of interstitial lung disease, pulmonary vascular disease in scleroderma, and asthma.