Look into the Future

Lung Disease

Research Opportunity		Forecast
Develop technologies to identify mechanisms that modulate sequence and timing of gene expression in the lung, including genes that control lung growth and repair		Modulation of gene expression to regrow functional pulmonary tissue New therapies with molecular targets to protect the airways and alveoli from the stress of the environment and from chronic inflammation
Develop gene transfer vectors to maintain persistent expression of genes to suppress the pathogenic mechanisms of disease, and protect the lung from environmental insult		Gene therapy to correct the genetic disorders cystic fibrosis and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, and genetic vaccines to protect the lung, including from threats of bioterrorism
Identify genes that modulate susceptibility to disease and disease expression		Specific therapy that targets susceptibility genes in asthma, venous thrombosis, and chronic obstructive lung disease Therapies that bolster host defenses in infectious diseases
Identify lung stem cells, including progenitor cells specific for airways, pulmonary vasculature, and alveoli		Understanding the biology to determine growth of functional pulmonary tissue
Identify receptors and ligands involved in inflammatory and apoptotic processes in the lung		Therapeutic recombinant monoclonal antibodies
Develop antiproteases and antioxidants		Therapies to protect lung tissue from inflammatory mediators in chronic diseases
Identify variations in pathogen genomes that regulate virulence		Designer antibodies that target specific pathogen strains Gene-based vaccines that function locally against pulmonary pathogens
Develop new technologies for aerosol administration of therapeutic proteins		Aerosol administration of anti-proteases, anti-oxidants, and anti-infective agents
Understand the variations in the human genome that modulate susceptibility and risk to environmental stresses that cause lung disease		Personalized medicine for the lung, enabling physicians to determine who is susceptible to specific lung disorders, and how each individual will respond to specific therapies

Author: Ronald G. Crystal, MD, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University