The University of Illinois at Chicago is a member of AsthmaNet, a nationwide clinical research network created by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Nationwide, AsthmaNet includes 17 Sites that conduct clinical trials on asthma in both adults and children.

• Determining Differences in Airway Inflammation Between African American and Caucasian Asthmatics (DABA)
  IRB# 2012-0155
  PI: Sharmilee Nyenhuis, MD
  This study investigates how airway inflammation in asthma differs with race.
  
   

  More Info

 
• Mast Cell, Macrophage and Eosinophil Interactions in Asthma
  IRB# 200-0838
  PI: John Christman, MD
  Co-Investigators: Steven J. Ackerman, PhD, H. Ari Jaffe, MD, Susan Corbridge, PhD, APN, Sharmilee Nyenhuis, MD, Gye Young Park, MD MSc
  This study characterizes the role of airway and blood inflammatory cells (mast cells, eosinophils and macrophages) in the pathobiology of allergic airway inflammation.
  
   

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• Vitamin D Add-on Therapy Enhances Corticosteroid Responsiveness in Asthma (VIDA)
  Sponsored by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and NHLBI
  IRB# 2011-0624
  PI: Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD
  This trial investigates whether taking vitamin D in addition to inhaled steroids may help with asthma attacks and symptoms.
  
   

  Interested? Call 1-855-I-WHEEZE (1-855-494-3393)
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Upcoming Asthma Studies

• SIENA
  PI: Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD
  Steroids in Eosinophil Negative Asthma
  The goal of this trial is to identify the most effective use of corticosteroids in asthma therapy for different populations of patients.
 
• STAT
  PI: Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD
  Severe Asthma Treatment Add-On Trial
  The goal of this trial is to identify how to best manage asthma in patients with severe, poorly controlled asthma.
 
• B-Practical
  PI: Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD
  Blacks/Caucasians with Poor Asthma Control - Take Increased Corticosteroids, and/or LABA. The goal of this trial is to identify the most effective therapy for African Americans with asthma.

The University of Illinois at Chicago is the only site in Illinois that participates in the nationwide COPD Clinical Research Network (COPD CRN). The COPD CRN is a consortium of clinical research centers, and is funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

• Comparative Effectiveness of a COPD Assessment and Management Bundle Versus Usual Care in Patients Suspected of Having COPD
  Sponsored by NHLBI
  IRB# 2012-0997
  PI: Min Joo, MD, MPH
  This randomized-control clinical trial investigates if diagnosis and guided therapy with the use of spirometry is related to better patient associated outcomes compared to usual care which may or may not include the use of spirometry.
 
• The Long-term Oxygen Treatment Trial (LOTT)
  Sponsered by NHLBI
  IRB# 2011-0688
  PI: Min Joo, MD, MPH
  This clinical study investigates the effects of supplemental oxygen therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
   

  Interested? Call 1-855-I-WHEEZE (1-855-494-3393)
  More Info

   
• Lung Volume Reduction Coil Treatment in Patients with Emphysema(RENEW)
  Sponsered by PneumRx, Inc.
  IRB# 2013-0012
  PI: Kevin Kovitz, MD, MBA
  PneumRx is conducting an FDA-approved study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a medical device for patients with emphysema: the RePneu®(say ‘RENEW’) Lung Volume Reduction Coil. Coils are placed in the airways of the lung and work by compressing diseased portions of the lung, helping small airways stay open, so that breathing becomes easier and healthier parts of the lung can function more effectively.
  
   

  More information available on Clinicaltrials.gov

   
• SimvaSTATin in the Prevention of COPD Exacerbations (STATCOPE)
  Sponsored by NHLBI
  IRB# 2011-0706
  PI: Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD
  This trial investigates whether use of Simvastatin, a medicine usually used to lower cholesterol, may decrease the number and seriousness of COPD flare-ups.
  
   

  Interested? Call 1-855-I-WHEEZE (1-855-494-3393)
  More Info

The University of Illinois at Chicago is one of 6 sites nationwide to participate in the COPD Outcomes-based Network for Clinical Effectiveness & Research Translation (CONCERT)
Recruitment is now complete for CONCERT studies. Please check again for updates on future studies.

• A Phase II Trial of Inhaled Carbon Monoxide for the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
  IRB# 2011-0454
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  Sponsored by NIH
  This multicenter clinical trial, lead by Harvard University, aims to study the effects of inhaled Carbon Monoxide on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
   

  Interested in participating? Call (312)355-1470

  Research Coordinator: (312)355-5934

  More information available on Clinicaltrails.gov

• Carbon Monoxide Therapy for Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
  IRB# 2010-0722
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  The purpose of this Clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of Carbon Monoxide as a potential treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
   
• Genomic and Biomarker Studies in Pulmonary Hypertension
  IRB# 2010-0977
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  A data base is being developed to study Pulmonary Hypertension biomarkers at different stages of the disease.
   
• A Postmarketing Observational Study to Assess Respiratory Tract Adverse Events in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients Treated With TYVASO (Terprostinil) Inhalation Solution
  WIRB# 20101884
  IRB# 2011-0675
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  This Clinical trial is designed to study nasopharyngeal and pulmonary adverse events that may be associated with current or recent treatment with Tyvaso in patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
   

  More information available on Clinicaltrails.gov

 
• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QuERI) Extension Program
  WIRB# 20102084
  IRB# 2011-0988
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  This trail focus on improving the management of PAH patients through an evidence-based approach aimed at achieving optimal WHO functional classification.
   

  More information available on Clinicaltrails.gov

The PRR is a registry of individuals (with or without a lung condition) who have indicated an interest in participating in pulmonary research studies. PRR participants may be contacted by researchers in the future to ask if they wish to participate in a UIC Institutional Review Board approved clinical trial.

• The Blood Lung Consortium
  IRB# 2012-0455
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  A multicenter study. This research is being done to better understand Asthma patterns in Sickle Cell Disease.
 
• Cardiovascular Complications of Sickle Cell Disease
  IRB# 2010-0365
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  This research is being done to better understand the effects of the Sickle Cell Disease on the Cardiovascular system; patients with this disease are at higher risk for cardiovascular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension.
 
• Effect of Adenosine 2A Receptor Agonist Regadenoson on Microvascular Blood Flow in Sickle Cell Anemia
  IRB# 2010-0360
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  Clinical trial in collaboration with Medical College of Wisconsin. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effects of two drugs, hydroxyurea and regadenoson on blood flow in patients with Sickle Cell Disease.
   

  Interested in participating? Call (312)355-1470

  Research Coordinator: (312)355-5934

  More information available on Clinicaltrails.gov

 
• Genomic and Biomarker Studies in Sickle Cell Disease
  IRB# 2010-1125
  Sponsored by NIH
  PI: Roberto Machado, MD
  The purpose of this study is to develop a database to study the relationship of biomarkers and the progression on Sickle Cell Disease at different disease stages.

• Biobehavioral Effects of Disturbed Sleep (BEDS)
  PI: David W. Carley, PhD
  With support from the Office of the Director of the NHLBI, UIC has formed the BEDS Research Consortium; comprising faculty members from 12 departments and 5 colleges at UIC as well as senior collaborators from both Northwestern University and University of Chicago. This consortium is working to blend the languages, concepts, methods and models of many traditional disciplines, focusing them on research into the connections between poor sleep and impaired biobehavioral and social function in health and disease. We aim to truly transform the research paradigm and accelerate discovery into the links between sleep and daytime function. Poor sleep has reached epidemic proportions in developed countries, negatively impacting nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Shockingly, after decades of research, the mechanisms by which insufficient or disturbed sleep impacts behavioral and social functioning remain poorly understood.
 
• Mandibular Advancement Pharmacologic Augmentation Trial (MAP)
  Sponsored by the Chancellor’s Discovery Award
  IRB# 2012-0629
  PI: David W. Carley PhD, Bharati Prasad MD MS, Therese Galang
  This pilot study will test the benefit of augmenting standard mandibular advancement therapy for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea with a combination of ondansetron and fluoxetine. The goal is to improve the efficacy of the advancement devices.
   
• Pharmacotherapy of Apnea by Cannabimimetic Enhancement (PACE)
  Sponsored by NHLBI
  IRB# 2012-0095
  PI: David W. Carley, PhD
  Co-Investigator: Bharati Prasad MD MS, Hui Xie PhD
  UIC is the lead site for this multi-site Phase II randomized controlled trial of dronabinol in obstructive sleep apnea. The study will determine the safety, tolerability and efficacy of cannabinoid therapy for sleep apnea. PACE is the largest trial of any drug treatment for sleep apnea to date, and the first multi-site RCT ever sponsored by the NIH.
   

  More information available on Clinicaltrails.gov

• Cholesterol regulation of K+ channels
  PI: Irena Levitan, PhD
  Elevation of plasma cholesterol is well-known to be a major risk factor in the development of Cardiovascular disease but the mechanisms by which cholesterol regulates the function of membrane proteins are still poorly understood. Our studies focus on inwardly rectifying K+ channels, a major type of K+ channels that are expressed in multiple cell types including endothelial cells, macrophages, smooth muscle cells, cardiomyocytes, and neurons and they play key roles in the regulation of electrical properties of the cellular membranes, cellular excitability and signaling.
   
  More information regarding this project available under Levitan’s Lab-Current Projects
   
• Impact of Oxidized Lipids on Endothelial Biomechanics
  PI: Irena Levitan, PhD
  Multiple studies established that oxidized modifications of lipoproteins, such as oxLDL, are major risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms of oxLDL-induced endothelial dysfunction are still poorly understood. Our studies discovered that oxLDL results in an increase in stiffness of aortic endothelial cells and we propose that endothelial stiffening is the key early step in endothelial dysfunction that leads to the disruption of the endothelial barrier and alters the sensitivity of endothelial cells to shear stress forces.
   
  More information regarding this project available under Levitan’s Lab-Current Projects
   
• Macrophage Gene Expression in Acute Lung Inflammation
  PI: John Christman, MD
  The overall goal of this competitive renewal is to identify pivotal mechanisms to regulate pulmonary macrophage gene expression that contribute to the molecular pathogenesis of lung inflammation in severe sepsis and are amenable to interdiction. Our studies are designed to interrogate whether targeting of the influence of PU.1 on KLF4 gene expression is an effective treatment for acute lung inflammation and injury and could possibly be applied to other acute and chronic inflammatory conditions such as type 1 diabetes inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, & rheumatoid arthritis.
   
  More inoformation regarding this project available under Christman Current Research
   
• Mechanisms of Down Regulated Kv Channels: Role of microRNAs
  PI: Jason X.-J. Yuan, MD, PhD
  The overall goal in this study is to identify the Kv channels that are downregualted in PAH (Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension), resulting in increased PASMC (Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells) proliferation and decreasing PASMC apoptosis, increasing Pulmonary Vascular Ressitance. In addition to downregualted Kv channels, we hope to identify upregualted miRNAs that may regulate the stability and transcription of Kv channel mRNAs. The long-term goal of this study is to define the mechanism underlying the inhibition of Kv channels in IPAH-PASMC and to explore the possibility of targeting miRNA for developing therapeutic approaches for IPAH.
 
• NADPH Oxidase Regulation of the Macrophage Inflammatory Phenotype in Sepsis
  PI: John Christman, MD
  The overall goal in this study is to identify signaling mechanisms in pulmonary macrophages that regulate the activation of neutrophils that are crucial in mediating lung inflammatory injury. By systematically delineating the role of NADPH oxidase in regulating the function of lung macrophages in modulating lung inflammation, we should identify novel signaling pathways that could provide novel therapeutic approaches to limit acute lung injury (ALI).
 
More inoformation regarding this project available under Christman Current Research
 
• Neurobiology of Sleep Apnea in Aging
  PI: David W. Carley, PhD
  Previous funding cycles of this award have begun to define the brainstem networks responsible for the significant changes in cardiorespiratory function associated with transitions among various sleep/wake states. These changes are implicated in a variety of clinical disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In particular, this program has identified important respiratory modulating functions for the pedunculopontine tegmental (PPT) nucleus in the pons. The current funding cycle will define the role of orexin, a recently recognized neuromodulator, on PPT function and ultimately, on respiratory disturbances during sleep. This will help to clarify the mechanisms by which narcolepsy, a sleep disorder resulting from autoimmune loss of orexin in the brain, leads to both autonomic dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
 
• Regulation of Neutrophilic Lung Inflammation
  PI: John Christman, MD
  We propose to investigate the pre-transcriptional events in pulmonary macrophages that lead to cytokine- and chemokine-mediated inflammation in the lung. In previous years of funding, we have focused on the early effects of NADPH oxidase that result in attenuation of the NF-κB Activation pathway. We now propose to investigate the role of NADPH oxidase in the resolution of neutrophilic lung inflammation in pulmonary macrophages. By examining the physiological role of NADPH oxidase on the resolution of neutrophilc lung inflammation, we expect to identify novel mechanisms that could provide evidence for effective therapeutic approaches to limit lung injury and restore health in patients suffering from ARDS and other inflammation lung diseases.
   
  More inoformation regarding this project available under Christman Current Research
 
• Role of p67^phox in myocardial hypertrophy
  PI: Lei Xiao, MD, PhD
  The overall goal of this project is to identify the novel signaling mechanisms of  NADPH oxidase (NOX) and its subunit p67^phox in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. By generation of a transgenic mouse model with cardiac-specific inhibition of p67^phox/NOX enzyme function, we are investigating the role of p67^phox/NOX in regulation of cardiac growth and hypertrophy in response to multiple hypertrophic stimuli including chronic pressure-overload and alpha-1 adrenergic receptor stimulation in the heart.

• Role of pulmonary macrophages (John Christman, MD, Gye Young Park, MD MSc)
• Structural changes that occur in the pulmonary vasculature (Dean E. Schraufnagel, MD)
• Neurobiology of sleep and its disorders (David W. Carley, PhD)
• Regulation of pulmonary vascular barrier function (Steven Dudek, MD)
• Immune mediated pulmonary diseases (Patricia W. Finn, MD)
• Metabolic consequences associated with sleep-disordered breathing (James J. Herdegen, MD)
• Cellular mechanisms of lung vascular diseases (Jeffrey Jacobson, MD)
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in homozygotes and symptomatic heterozygotes, COPD, interstitial lung disease including novel therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and anti-TNF antibody strategies in sarcoidosis, alternate strategies for sedation in ventilated patients (H. Ari Jaffe, MD)
• Impact of dyslipidemia on endothelial dysfunction (Irena Levitan, PhD)
• Mechanisms of lipid emulsion resuscitation during cardiopulmonary collapse (Israel Rubinstein, MD)
• Novel targeted nanomedicines (Israel Rubinstein, MD)
• Pulmonary vascular pathophysiology and pathogenic mechanisms of pulmonary vascular disease (Jason X. -J. Yuan)
• Genomics, genetics and vascular biology of pulmonary vascular diseases and sickle cell disease (Roberto Machado, MD)

Last Updated 4/23/2013