The Carl and Hazel Felt Laboratory for Pulmonary Research

Established in 1988, the mission of the Carl and Hazel Felt Laboratory for Pulmonary Research is to advance the understanding of asthma and chronic bronchitis/COPD pathogenesis, including the study of new and current therapies. We hope to accomplish these goals by studying people with asthma and COPD to learn how the airway inflammation begins, continues and responds to therapy. We are endeavoring to apply the concepts learned at the bench to patient care, in hopes of improving asthma and COPD therapy and ultimately quality of life.

 

Asthma Clinical Research Network (ACRN)

Our research group is a select part of a multi-center network, called Asthma Clinical Research Network (ACRN), which is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the NIH. ACRN is dedicated to conducting well-designed clinical trials for rapid evaluation of new and existing therapeutic approaches for asthma and for dissemination of laboratory and clinical findings to the health care community.

 

Bacterial Infection and Asthma

Infection with mycoplasma species, particularly Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is known to exacerbate asthma. However using polymerase chain reaction, we are finding evidence of chronic M. pneumoniae presence in the airways, and finding improvement in our subjects' asthma after treatment with the antibiotic clarithromycin. To further explore results of our study, we are recruiting subjects for a study assessing the presence of mycoplasma species with future studies focusing on effects of antibiotics and corticosteroids on M. pneumoniae.

 

Airway Disease and Obesity

Evidence has been accruing suggesting obesity as a risk factor for asthma.  We are currently examining the effects of body mass index (BMI) on lung function in asthma and other lung diseases.

 

COPD/Chronic Bronchitis

We are conducting multiple clinical trials looking at novel treatments for COPD.  We are currently conducting a study for an investigational medication to treat mucus in COPD. In 2008, we began a trial looking at the effect of anticholesterol medications in people with COPD.

 

Laboratory Staff

Director: E. Rand Sutherland, MD, MPH   Investigators: Richard Martin, MD David Beuther, MD Hong Wei Chu, MD Post Doctoral Fellow(s): Qun Wu, PhD Xiaona Ge, MD, PhD Nicole Michels, PhD Manager: Juno Pak, BS

IRB  Liason: Jennifer Brandorff, BS, CIM   Clinical Staff: Mary Gill, RN, BSN Allen Stevens, BA, CCRC, NREMTB Lab Staff: Taylor Moss, BS Christena Kolakowski, MS Spencer LaFasto, BS Maisha Minor, BS Stephanie Case, BS Rebecca Green, BS Andrew Weinberger, BS

Contact Information: 
If you are interested in our studies, contact us at:
303-398-1443
martinlab@njc.org