News
Dr. Croft Awarded K23 from NIEHS for Air Pollution Research
Monday, December 7, 2020
Daniel Croft, MD, MPH, has been awarded a K32 research grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to study the effect of air pollution on the immune response to respiratory viral infestions in adults. Respiratory viral infections are an important cause of hospitalization and death in adults, and we are concerned that exposure to outdoor air pollution may reduce the body's ability to fight infection. This epidemiology study will examine the association between short-term exposure to outdoor air pollution concentrations and the immune system response to respiratory viral infection, in a population of adult patients hospitalized with severe respiratory viral infections. By studying this link between air pollution and respiratory viral infection, we can learn how to better counsel our patients to avoid specific pollutants in the short term to protect them against severe respiratory infection, while we contribute to decisions on air quality regulations.
Sarcoidosis Program Named Center of Excellence
Monday, December 7, 2020
We are extremely proud to announce the Comprehensive Sarcoidosis Program was recently named one of 14 programs in the nation—and 23 in the world—to earn Center of Excellence designation by the World& Association for Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders and the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.
The team, led by advanced heart failure cardiologist Himabindu Vidula, M.D. and pulmonologist R. Matthew Kottmann, M.D., is the only multidisciplinary sarcoidosis center in the region, drawing patients from across the state.
“We have worked very hard to build a strong multidisciplinary center for patients with this complex disease and I am very proud of our entire team,” said Vidula, associate professor of Medicine, Cardiology.
Sarcoidosis causes inflammation of several organs, most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes. It also affects the heart, liver, kidneys, eyes and skin, creating damaging scars that lead to more serious problems.
“The sarcoid program includes experts from diverse specialties who provide the full complement of care these patients need,” said Kottman, associate professor of Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care.
The Center of Excellence designation follows detailed analysis of the program’s best practices, research, training and support for patients and specialists.
The program includes pulmonologists Irene Perillo and David Nagel, cardiac imaging specialist Ronald Schwartz, electrophysiologist Mehmet Aktas, radiologist David Dombroski, endocrinologist Inga Harbuz-Miller, nephrologist Catherine Moore, neurologist Jessica Robb, ophthalmologist Vamsi Gullapalli, and rheumatologist Christopher Palma as well as advanced heart failure nurse practitioner Megan Dierks and pulmonology nurse practitioner Tina Parmenter.
UR Medicine Mary Parkes Center’s Real-World Severe Asthma Experience Presented at the American Thoracic Society
Friday, May 15, 2020
The results of controlled clinical trials evaluating treatments for severe asthma were presented in a poster session, "Real World Effectiveness of Biologics in Severe Asthma—University of Rochester Experience," at the Annual American Thoracic Society International Conference, 2020. The study was authored by Mary Parkes Center faculty and staff.