Clinical Trials at BIDMC
Review our current research studies.
Lung Health Research
Preventing Lung Disease Through Innovation
The BIDMC Institute for Lung Health is a multidisciplinary research program dedicated to the prevention of respiratory disease. Our core mission is to identify preventable causes of chronic lung disease and translate research findings into patient care and health policies that improve lung health.
Our work leverages innovative assessments of personal exposures, geospatial analysis, and quantitative analysis of medical imaging. Our studies include randomized clinical trials, clinical data repositories, and prospective cohort studies of children, young adults, older adults, and adults living with lung disease.
Specific areas of investigation at the BIDMC Institute for Lung Health include:
- Evaluating the impact of climate change on the respiratory health of children and adults
- Examining air filtration as a method of improving lung health by reducing personal air pollution exposure
- Identification of risk factors for chronic lung diseases (including asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary vascular disease)
- Novel applications of chest CT imaging to evaluate abnormal lung health before the development of symptoms
A unique aspect of our Institute is our focus on translating research findings to policy and prevention.
Current Research Projects in Lung Health
Air Purification for Eosinophilic COPD Study (APECS)
PI: Dr. Mary Rice
Co-Investigators & Trainees: Kelly Chen, Lina Nurhussien, Anna Stanley-Lee, Dr. Maura Alvarez Baumgartner, Dr. Amro Aglan, Dr. Mostafa Aglan, Dr. Nicholas Nassikas, Dr. Andrew Synn
The main goal of this study is to determine if placement of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers in the home improves lung function, respiratory symptoms, and airway inflammation in former smokers with eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Study of Pollution and COPD Exacerbation (SPACE)
PI: Dr. Mary Rice
Co-Investigators & Trainees: Kelly Chen, Lina Nurhussien, Anna Stanley-Lee, Dr. Amro Aglan, Dr. Mostafa Aglan, Dr. Charlotte Scheerens, Dr. Andrew Synn
This study uses novel portable monitors to measure personal air pollution and temperature exposure and daily activity and lung function. Our goal is to assess if personal and community-level air pollution exposure in the Boston area affects lung function, respiratory symptoms, sleep, and activity level among patients living with COPD.
Imaging Biomarkers of Pulmonary Vascular Disease, Framingham Heart Study & BIDMC Cohorts
PI: Dr. Andrew Synn
Co-Investigators & Trainees: Dr. Sunny Jeong, Dr. Mary Rice
In collaboration with our colleagues in the Applied Chest Imaging Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital, we are examining CT-based measures of pulmonary vascular structure as a non-invasive indicator of pulmonary vascular disease. This project uses data from the Framingham Heart Study and cohorts at BIDMC to investigate whether abnormalities in the pulmonary vessels on CT may predict risk of lung and cardiovascular disease.
Climate Change and Lung Health
PI: Dr. Nicholas Nassikas
Co-Investigators & Trainees: Dr. Mary Rice, Dr. Diane Gold
Climate change has altered weather patterns and prolonged and intensified the allergy season. This project examines the associations of weather conditions and pollen levels with lung function and airway inflammation among children (Project Viva) and adults.
Risk Factors for Respiratory and Allergic Disease, Project Viva
PI: Dr. Mary Rice
Co-Investigators & Trainees: Dr. Bess Flashner, Dr. Stephen Mein, Lina Nurhussien
Project Viva is a longitudinal study of children who have been followed from pre-birth through the teenage years. Through a series of research projects in collaboration with Project Viva investigators, we are examining how early life exposures including pollution, diet, and exercise affect the risk of asthma and allergic disease in childhood and adolescence.
Serum Auto-antibodies and Interstitial Lung Disease Phenotypes
PI: Dr. Robert Hallowell (MGH / BIDMC collaborating researcher), Dr. Mary Rice
Co-Investigators & Trainees: Dr. Kavitha Selvan, Dr. Bess Flashner, Lina Nurhussien, Dr. Ritu Gill
This clinical research project investigates the relationship of serum auto-antibodies with acute and chronic presentations of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and ILD-associated pulmonary vascular disease.
Sampling the Nasal Epithelial Lining Fluid as a Non-Invasive Indicator of Metal and Microbial Exposures and Immune Response in People with COPD
PI: Dr. Mary Rice
Co-Investigators & Trainees: Dr. Maura Alvarez Baumgartner, Lina Nurhussien, Anna Stanley-Lee, Dr. Andrew Synn
This pilot research involves novel nasal sampling techniques developed by collaborators at UNC (Jaspers, Rebuli) to assess if inhaled air pollution exposures are linked to differences in mediators of inflammation, the nasal microbiome, or the concentration of metals and elements in the upper respiratory tract among patients with COPD.
Indicators of Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy Response
PI: Dr. Cyrus Kholdani
This clinical research project will evaluate the use of provocative testing in the catheterization laboratory to predict pulmonary vasodilator therapy response in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
American Lung Association (ALA) Lung Health Cohort
BIDMC Sub PI: Dr. Mary Rice
BIDMC Co-Investigators & Trainees: Dr. Murray Mittleman, Dr. Andrew Synn
Cohort Study PIs: Drs. Ravi Kalhan (NWU), George Washko (BWH), Mercedes Carnethon (NWU), Elizabeth Sugar (JHU)
The ALA Lung Health Cohort is the first national cohort of young adults focused on respiratory health and seeks to develop targets to intercept chronic lung disease at its earliest stages. The multi-center cohort study is recruiting 4,000 generally healthy young adults aged 25-35 at ALA Airway Clinical Research Centers. For this large project funded by NHLBI, we will apply geospatial analyses and exposure models to examine associations of long-term residential, educational, and occupational environmental exposures and respiratory health.
