Current Research
Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders at Children’s Mercy Hospitals
The MISSION of the Center for Infant Pulmonary Disorders (CIPD) is to improve the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for infants with congenital or acquired lung disorders. Most, but not all, of these infants are born extremely preterm and develop an often debilitating lung disorder called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The CIPD’s long term GOAL is to save lives, reduce suffering, and maximize use of resources. Our faculty seek to speed the application of individualized diagnostic and treatment methods for BPD and other disorders which arise soon after birth and produce childhood-long and sometimes lifelong impairment in lung function.
The CIPD is fortunate to have a generous endowment—the Cooper Connor Endowed Fund for Pulmonary Research—which was established to support our research. This support helped us participate as one of 18 sites in the Neonatal Research Network and now in a new federally funded study designed to improve the use of powerful medications to lessen the effects of BPD. Without the Cooper Connor Endowment funding, we would not have had the resources to fully participate in these or other studies.
All of the complications associated with prematurity are decreasing in incidence—with the notable exception of BPD. As survival rates for immature infants have improved, the incidence and prevalence of this disorder have continued to increase, not decrease. This reality compels our CIPD investigators to continually look for ways to reduce the medical, emotional, and financial burdens on infants and their families.
Fortunately, new faculty are bringing increased depth and breadth of knowledge and skills in clinical research supported by the CIPD. Alain Cuna, MD; Tamorah Lewis, MD, PhD; and Venkatesh Sampath, MD, have been recruited to our CIPD team of neonatologists, pediatric pulmonologists, data analysts, and clinical research coordinators. Each of these individuals brings new expertise in genomics, gene activity regulation, and pharmacogenomics. Each also supplements current expertise in data analysis and data management, allowing more precise risk linkages between developing lung disorders and their outcomes. Coupled with the CIPD Director, William E. Truog, MD, our clinical research coordinators and other individuals at Children’s Mercy-Kansas City, we commit to being the best possible stewards of the Cooper Connor Endowed Fund for Pulmonary Research to win the battle against devastating lung disorders.
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