Deployment-Related Lung Disease Center

Iraq veteran Dr. Richard Meehan testing air quality in a dust storm in the Middle East.

Since 2001, more than 3 million United States military personnel and contractors have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other sites in Southwest Asia. In-theatre exposure to open air burn pits, sandstorms, combat dust, diesel exhaust and other workplace hazards may place deployers at risk for disabling respiratory symptoms and lung diseases.

The National Jewish Health Deployment-Related Lung Disease Program in Denver, Colorado, is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of active military, veterans and contactors with lung conditions related to their mission. We also conduct research to understand the causes of deployment-related lung disease, identify new and better diagnostic tools, develop better treatment and look for ways to prevent these devastating diseases.

National Jewish Health is a Veterans Choice Program approved hospital, providing eligible military veterans access to our specialty care center.

Learn more about Lung Diseases Affecting Military and Veterans

 

Deployment-related Lung Disease Research

In collaboration with the Department of Defense, National Jewish Health is searching for the causes of deployment-related lung diseases that impact our military personnel and veterans.

Our research program is designed to:

  • Find noninvasive tests for diagnosing deployment-related lung injury

  • Explore interactions between smoking and deployment dust

  • Understand individual risk factors for these lung conditions

  • Investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung injury

  • Develop targeted treatments based on scientific evidence

Deployment Lung News and Resources

In collaboration with the Department of Defense, National Jewish Health is searching for the causes of deployment-related lung diseases that impact our military personnel and veterans.

Our research program is designed to:

  • Find noninvasive tests for diagnosing deployment-related lung injury

  • Explore interactions between smoking and deployment dust

  • Understand individual risk factors for these lung conditions

  • Investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung injury

  • Develop targeted treatments based on scientific evidence

 

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