Interstitial Lung Disease
About Us
Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease
The Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease (Simmons Center) is a comprehensive multidisciplinary program incorporating research scientists, clinicians, nurse specialists, and rehabilitation medicine staff. Current research efforts include basic investigations focused on:
- Mechanisms of the lung fibrosis
- Injury and repair
- Genomics and proteomics of lung fibrosis
- Role of genetics in determining the fibrotic phenotype
The program is structured to facilitate the rapid translation from bench investigation to clinical medicine Scientists at the program are funded by the NIH, and enjoy a strong collaborative relationship with investigators in the departments of Pathology and Surgery, and with multiple investigators all across the world.
At the Simmons Center, evaluation and treatment is conducted by a multidisciplinary team including experts in:
- Pulmonary medicine
- Rheumatology
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Radiology
- Pathology
- Thoracic surgery
- Lung transplantation
- Genomics
- Quality of life
Patients have access to NIH- and industry-sponsored research opportunities to study causes and potential treatments for their diseases. In particular, the researchers and clinicians at the Simmons Center work closely to translate basic research on interstitial lung disease into new treatments that may save lives in the future and to new diagnostic approaches that will allow personalized management of their disease.
Quality of life assessment and disease management education are key components of the Simmons Center. Patients and their families can participate in Support Groups, Regional Education Events, and other outreach activities aimed to improve theie ability to handle the burden of disease.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Network
The Simmons Center for ILD is a member of the recently formulated Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Network and Patient Registry. The PFF Care Center Network will provide a standardized, multidisciplinary approach to patient care across US clinical centers for IPF care. This model of comprehensive patient care will help identify and establish best practices, determine the impact of specific interventions, and improve the quality of life of patients. By 2015, the Care Center Network will incrementally expand to include 40 medical centers.. Patients will have the option to participate in a National Registry to better define the clinical features of the disease, and hopefully identify patients who will benefit from new therapeutic interventions.
