Interstitial Lung Disease Refer a Patient Order A Test Contact Us OverviewFacultyClinical ProgramClinical ResearchBasic ScienceNational Jewish Health is home to the world’s most respected interstitial lung disease (ILD) experts who conduct both industry-sponsored and NIH-funded research. As one of the largest interstitial lung disease referral centers in the United States, we have access to patients, biological samples and animal models that can help solve the mysteries of these complex diseases and improve care for patients who suffer from them. Carlyne D. Cool, MD Steve D. Groshong, MD, PhD Kevin K. Brown, MD Stephen K. Frankel, MD, FCCM, FCCP Jeffrey James Swigris, DO, MS Gregory P. Downey, MD Robert M. Maulitz, MD William T. Pluss, MD, FCCP Evans R. Fernández, MD, MS Joshua J. Solomon, MD Vipin Malik, MD Amy L. Olson, MD, MSPH Michelle MacDonald, MS, RDN, CDE Bronwyn Long, DNP, MBA, RN Tristan J. Huie, MD Zulma X. Yunt, MD Shelby R. Jenkins, OTR James K. O'Brien, MD, FACP, FCCP James Woodrow, MD Michael P. Mohning, MD Rebecca C. Keith, MD Robert A. Meguid, MPH, MD Kasia Hoover, PA-C Katherine Rosen, RN, MSN, ANP-C Pamela L. Zeitlin, MD, MPhil, PhD Catherine Wittman, MD James Pellerin, MD Jane E. Gross, MD, PhD Amanda Stephens, MD Gabriel C. Lockhart, MD David M. Ferraro, MD Matthew Koslow, MD Hilda Metjian, MD, FCCP Allison Zangle, PT, DPT (1) Megan Baumgardner, PT, DPT (1) National Jewish Health has one of the largest interstitial lung disease (ILD) programs in the United States. Our clinicians treat more than 1,800 patients a year, who suffer from all types of ILD, including: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias Familial pulmonary fibrosis Hypersensitivity pneumonitis Connective tissue or autoimmune disease-related pulmonary fibrosis Rheumatoid arthritis Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (Lupus) Anti-synthetase syndrome and other myositis-associated ILD Vasculitis Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Wegener’s Syndrome) Microscopic polyangiitis Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Churg-Strauss Syndrome) Brochiolitis syndromes Sarcoidosis Common variable immunodeficiency Eosinophilic lung diseases Langerhan's cell histiocytosis Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis All other forms of rare diffuse lung disease Learn more about the ILD Clinical Program National Jewish Health has a tremendous clinical research program whose investigators seek to systematically advance understanding of interstitial lung disease (ILD), including its epidemiology, natural history, and prognosis. There is particular emphasis on developing or identifying patient-reported outcome measures to assess the impact of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions on patients, and to broadly assess how living with ILD affects patients’ quality of life. ILD Biorepository National Jewish Health has a repository of biological specimens from more than 200 ILD patients seen at National Jewish Health. By cross-referencing these samples with our EMR, we are able to identify highly relevant samples derived from clinical information collected over time, including laboratory testing, symptoms, diagnoses and demographics. ILD Clinical Trials National Jewish Health conducts both industry-sponsored and NIH-funded Phase I – Phase IV clinical trials. Our team has extensive experience managing all aspects of clinical trials, including: Study design Patient recruitment Biostatistics Clinical monitoring Regulatory compliance With support from the National Institutes of Health, investigators at National Jewish Health conduct extensive basic research into the mechanisms involved in the development and resolution of lung inflammation and fibrosis. Interstitial Lung Disease Areas of Interest Translational studies into the mechanisms that lead to the development of pulmonary fibrosis Investigation of the mechanism of myofibroblast apoptosis and survival in pulmonary fibrosis Investigation of signaling mechanisms that control pulmonary fibrosis Pre-clinical evaluation of novel therapeutic approaches to control pulmonary fibrosis Interstitial Lung Disease Animal Models National Jewish investigators use several animal models to study aspects of the development and resolution of pulmonary fibrosis based on well-characterized experimental endpoints that include lung mechanics, histology, fluorescence imaging and biochemical assays. Intratracheal Models (Single and Multiple Dose) bleomycin injection to model resolving and sustained pulmonary fibrosis Intratrachel silica injections to model chronic imflammation associated fibrosis. Adenoviral-mediated expression of activated TGF-ß to study TGF-ß dependent fibrosis Hydrochloric acid instillation to model lung inflammation and fibrosis associated with the aspiration of gastic contents Cell Cultures National Jewish investigators also have extensive expertise in the study of lung fibroblasts isolated from IPF patients and non-diseased control subject. These studies involved assessment of fibroblast survival, apoptosis, contractile activity and the expression of collagen and other pro-fibrotic markers. An extensive collection of primary lung fibroblasts are available from: Normal, non-disease donors IPF patients