Grant: New Investigator Salary Award: Clinical Rehabilitation

Shortness of breath is a debilitating and distressing symptom that significantly reduces an individual's ability to enjoy daily life. This is the main symptom of patients affected by chronic respiratory conditions such as interstitial lung disease (ILD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Shortness of breath leads to anxiety, depression, physical inactivity and research shows that it leads to increased hospitalizations, disability, and premature death. Being able to effectively manage shortness of breath will directly improve the lives of those suffering from ILD and COPD. Accordingly, the overall objective of the proposed research program is to understand the causes of shortness of breath and to evaluate novel treatments to reduce shortness of breath in patients with chronic respiratory conditions such as ILD and COPD. This clinical research program has two themes. Theme 1 will focus on using supplemental oxygen to enhance exercise tolerance and reduce breathlessness in patients with ILD. Aim 1 will explore the physiological mechanisms by which supplemental oxygen enhances exercise capacity and Aim 2 will be a clinical trial examining the effects of supplemental oxygen during 8 weeks of exercise rehabilitation in patients with ILD. Theme 2 will determine why women with COPD experience higher levels of breathlessness compared with men for the same level of disease severity. The ultimate goal of this research program is to find more effective solutions to reduce shortness of breath and improve exercise capacity and quality of life for men and women with COPD and ILD.