Lung Transplant News and Research

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A pulmonary transplant (or lung transplant) is a surgical procedure in which a diseased lung is removed and replaced with a healthy lung from a donor. A lung transplant will often be recommended if a person has advanced lung disease that is unresponsive to other treatments and/or when a person's life expectancy is likely less than 2-3 years. A lung transplant is considered for those suffering from the following conditions:

Scientists discover novel therapeutic strategy to treat aggressive subgroup of lung cancer

Research conducted by a team of Norton Thoracic Institute scientists on a novel therapeutic avenue for an aggressive and difficult to treat subgroup of lung cancer was published in the August 15, 2017 issue of Cancer Research.

17 Aug 2017

Researchers develop potential stem cell treatment for several lung conditions

A team of scientists from the UNC School of Medicine and North Carolina State University has developed promising research towards a possible stem cell treatment for several lung conditions, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis -- often-fatal conditions that affect tens of millions of Americans.

3 Aug 2017

Loyola Medicine participates in major study of rare lung disease that affects Puerto Ricans

Loyola Medicine is enrolling patients in the first major study of a rare, debilitating lung disease that disproportionately affects people from Puerto Rico.

7 Jul 2017

Researchers receive $8.6 million NIH grant for efforts to improve lung transplantation

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have received more than $8.6 million in federal grants to support efforts that could dramatically increase the number of lungs available for transplant – and then save the lives of the people who receive them.

6 Jul 2017

Hidden immune cells play key role in driving primary graft dysfunction

Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that a subset of immune cells called nonclassical monocytes (NCMs), previously unknown to reside in the lungs, play a key role in driving primary graft dysfunction (PGD), the leading cause of death after lung transplantation.

15 Jun 2017

Study highlights need to monitor transplant donor and recipient for identifying M. hominis infection

The way in which heart and lung transplant recipients acquired a specific species of bacteria, Mycoplasma hominis, had been previously undefined, and the bacterium was difficult to test.

16 May 2017

CUMC researchers create new organoids that mimic features of full-sized lung

New lung "organoids"-tiny 3-D structures that mimic features of a full-sized lung- have been created from human pluripotent stem cells by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center. The team used the organoids to generate models of human lung diseases in a lab dish, which could be used to advance our understanding of a variety of respiratory diseases.

11 May 2017

Scientists grow and purify earliest lung progenitors from human stem cells

Human lungs, like all organs, begin their existence as clumps of undifferentiated stem cells. But in a matter of months, the cells get organized. They gather together, branch and bud, some forming airways and others alveoli, the delicate sacs where our bodies exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide.

3 May 2017

New UBC research reveals clues to how bacteria proliferates in lungs of cystic fibrosis patients

New UBC research on bacteria that cause major problems for those with cystic fibrosis reveals clues as to how it proliferates for so long in the lungs and offers new ideas for treatments to explore.

27 Mar 2017

Researcher examines scarring process in hope of preventing chronic lung transplant rejection

For patients affected by lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and others, cures for their diseases are incredibly rare, if not nonexistent.

2 Mar 2017

Researchers developing compact respiratory assist device for children with lung failure

Acute and chronic lung diseases are the most life-threatening causes of hospitalization and death among young children. This is especially true for children suffering from cystic fibrosis.

7 Feb 2017

New technique could increase availability of donor lungs by increasing preservation time

Extending transplant time could reduce geographical limitations on donors and recipients and allow more time for organ assessment and repair

21 Nov 2016

Preserving donor lungs for longer time may provide greater flexibility during transplants

A new method which doubles the usual time donor lungs can remain outside the body can benefit patients, staff and allow retrieval of donor lungs across greater geographical areas, says a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

17 Nov 2016

Ancient remedy to treat severe diarrhea becomes effective therapy for multiple recurrent CDI

Modern medicine is taking a new look at an ancient remedy for severe diarrhea as a novel approach to treat a serious gastrointestinal infection.

22 Sep 2016

Study looks at positive link between high-volume transplant centers and improved patient outcomes

How many heart transplant programs do we really need? That was a question posed by a group of investigators, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Ashish Shah, M.D., in a novel study that used a computerized algorithm to highlight the value of high-volume transplant centers with corresponding improved outcomes.

20 Sep 2016

Computerized model illuminates need for standardized care in heart, lung transplantations

Using the results from a computerized mathematical model, Johns Hopkins researchers investigated whether they could improve heart and lung transplantation procedures by transferring patients from low-volume to high-volume transplant centers.

14 Sep 2016

New lung scanning platform holds potential to improve treatment for people with lung disease

New lung scanning technology developed at Monash University has the potential to transform treatment for millions of people with lung disease in Australia and around the world.

5 Aug 2016

New diagnostic blood test may offer hope for transplant recipients through analysis of cfDNA

When cells die, whether through apoptosis or necrosis, the DNA and other molecules found in those cells don't just disappear. They wind up in the blood stream, where degraded bits and pieces can be extracted.

8 Jul 2016

New blood test could help predict severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that rising blood levels of a protein called hematoma derived growth factor (HDGF) are linked to the increasing severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a form of damaging high blood pressure in the lungs.

20 Jun 2016

UPMC study gives better understanding of cardiac arrhythmia following lung transplantation

Cardiac arrhythmia is a common complication following lung transplantation, and one that has a significant negative impact on long-term patient survival, reports a team of UPMC researchers in the largest study of its kind to date.

27 May 2016