Leading pulmonary researchers and clinicians have established the University of Pittsburgh Asthma Institute at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, a comprehensive program dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with asthma. The Institute combines cutting edge research programs with state-of-the-art clinical care.

Nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population suffers from asthma, making it one of the most common chronic diseases in both children and adults. Asthma attacks are responsible for over one million visits to the emergency room and 500,000 hospitalizations per year. While many patients are able to control their symptoms through medication, as many as 20 percent of asthma patients don't experience relief from symptoms with current medications.

"Despite how common asthma is, it remains poorly understood and, in many cases, poorly treated," said Sally Wenzel, M.D., director of the Institute. "Ideally, this Institute will help us increase our scientific understanding of asthma and other allergic diseases and enable us to translate our findings into new and innovative treatments for patients."

In addition, the Institute will engage the medical and general community to increase awareness of asthma, improve general knowledge and help to empower health care providers and patients to better address the disease. Finally, the Institute will serve as a bridge between the pediatric and adult asthma communities to improve communication and care among patients and providers.

Patients who come to the Institute will undergo extensive evaluations, including a comprehensive history with a focus on identifying the environmental, hormonal and infectious factors in their illness. Patients will be routinely evaluated for inflammation of the lungs and, in some cases, have lung biopsies to examine the tissue more closely. The Institute works in conjunction with specialists from UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Clinical programs in the Institute will be managed by the Comprehensive Lung Center and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

"Patients will have access to our most advanced diagnostic technologies and treatments, as well as the opportunity to participate in our wide variety of clinical trials. We believe this institute will help patients live more healthfully and fully, while allowing researchers to understand what is happening with the disease at a biological level," said Dr. Wenzel.

Source
UPMC