News and Events
URMC Joins National Network for Bronchiectasis and NTM Care
Friday, March 14, 2025
Alexandra Adams, MD
Sonal Munsiff, MDThe Medical Center is among 33 centers across the country selected for the Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network. URMC was named a Clinical Associate Center, the only site in Upstate New York, supporting specialized care for bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM).
Sonal S. Munsiff, MD, of Infectious Diseases, and Alexandra Adams, MD, of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care, are co-directors of the center.
“We are proud to be part of the first national network for the treatment of these highly complex lung infections,” said Munsiff. “This national designation is a testament to our leadership in providing outstanding patient care and in conducting cutting-edge research in lung diseases.”
The network aims to develop standards of care that can be implemented across different centers, reduce the diagnosis time and support high-quality care.
“This designation will provide us greater access to clinical research trials to treat these conditions and help improve the standards of care for bronchiectasis and NTM patients across Central and Western New York,” Adams said.
More than 300,000 people in the United States are treated for bronchiectasis each year. It is characterized by enlarged airways that are thickened or scarred, making it difficult to clear mucus buildup. NTM is a chronic condition caused by mycobacteria and impacts people with compromised immune systems or other lung conditions, like bronchiectasis or COPD.
Network centers will create a national registry of patients, which will help management of the diseases and improve patient outcomes. The teams are working to establish a registry in the EMR to track bronchiectasis and NTM patients and support research.