Clinical/Translational Research:

At Vanderbilt, we have a very active ILD clinic caring for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)  and other ILDs. In addition to NIH and industry-sponsored clinical trials, we also recruit patients and their families into a number of ongoing clinical research studies supported by the NIH, Department of Defense, foundations, and industry partners. Through these studies, using blood or other samples from patients with ILD, we can gain new understanding into the causes and mechanisms of ILD.

Currently enrolling studies include:

Identifying genetic causes of pulmonary fibrosis in families: At least one in five patients with pulmonary fibrosis have a family history of interstitial lung disease.  Using state-of-the art next-generation sequencing approaches, these studies aim to identify gene mutations that cause or influence risk for ILD in families and to determine how different genetic risk factors influence the features and course of ILD.

Defining the natural history of pulmonary fibrosis in families: This ongoing, longitudinal study, which is open to siblings or children of familial ILD patients, is focused on understanding the earliest manifestations and mechanisms of ILD, and determining risk factors for developing ILD.

Viral infection and immune dysregulation in pulmonary fibrosis. Using state-of-the art cytometric approaches, this prospective study is focused on understanding how viral infection and the immune response to viral infection impacts risk for and outcomes of ILD.

Host response, lung microbiome, and clinical phenotype and hypersensitivity pneumonia. This study is investigating the role of the microbiome in patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other forms of ILD.

Glutamine PET-imaging in LAM. This study is evaluating a novel molecular imaging approach to test whether sirolimus alters the metabolic program of lung cells in patients with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.