Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine

The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine current research activities are focused on quality improvement, outcomes and comparative effectiveness research in various pulmonary and critical care disorders.

We have extensive expertise in conducting large database analysis and examining the benefit of health information technology. A multidisciplinary translational team (MTT) to identify unique phenotypes of asthma; understanding the effect of viral infections on airway epithelium; and to ascertain novel mutations in lung cancer for future therapeutic targets are a few examples of outstanding research conducted by the faculty members at UTMB.

Along with the current faculty members in the division, below is a list of investigators and specialized centers on the UTMB campus conducting cutting edge research on pulmonary diseases. The research spans from identifying new targets for treatment of asthma/COPD to reengineering lung tissue.

Please click on the names below to learn more about our investigators and centers:

What is a Clinical Trial?

A Clinical trial is a scientific research study that is intended to discover better ways to treat or prevent diseases. The studies are performed on humans and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Physicians use clinical trials to understand the effectiveness and safety of new treatments in patients. Such studies are important in the development of new treatments for diseases.

All clinical trials are voluntary. Participants always have the choice whether or not to take part in a clinical trial. The patient has the right to leave a clinical trial at any time, for any reason. If the patient does decides to leave, the health care team may ask that the participant to continue to be monitored for a period of time to look for any long-term effects of treatment.

More information about Clinical Trials can be found at Clinical Trials website.

What happens during a clinical trial?

The clinical trial process depends on the kind of trial being conducted. The clinical trial team includes doctors and nurses as well as social workers and other health care professionals. They check the health of the participant at the beginning of the trial, give specific instructions for participating in the trial, monitor the participant carefully during the trial, and stay in touch after the trial is completed.

Who can participate in a clinical trial?

All clinical trials have guidelines about who can participate. The criteria are based on such factors as age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions. Please ask your physician to see if you may qualify for a clinical trial.

How can I get involved in a clinical trial?

Consult with your treating physician regarding current clinical trials and the benefits for you.

Ongoing Clinical Trials

• A Study Evaluating the Effects of Lebrikizumab on Airway Eosinophilic Inflammation in Patients With Uncontrolled Asthma
• Benralizumab Efficacy in Moderate to Very Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) With Exacerbation History
• Efficacy and Safety Study of Benralizumab to Reduce OCS Use in Patients With Uncontrolled Asthma on High Dose Inhaled Corticosteroid Plus LABA and Chronic OCS Therapy
• Economic and Humanistic Impact of Low Peak Inspiratory Flow Rate (PIFR) in COPD Patients: An Observational Analysis