Research track: Lung function, ventilation and airway disease

About the research track

Respiratory medicine is an increasingly important medical field, as respiratory diseases are a growing cause of morbidity and mortality. The research track aims to disseminate knowledge about different aspects of the physiology and pathology of the respiratory system to doctoral students who are (or want to become) doctoral students at Uppsala University in this field.

The areas included are basic, pharmacological, biomedical and clinical sciences. In particular, the Lung Track will seek to create a common platform for knowledge, which, due to the tendency of research to be highly specialised, is often perceived as secondary during doctoral training.

Moreover, by bringing together young and senior researchers working in neighbouring fields, economies of scale in scientific activities can be achieved, through the exchange of ideas and the possibility of spontaneous aggregations.

The Lung track focuses on basic scientific and clinical knowledge of respiratory function and its diseases through lectures aimed at understanding pathology and its impact on patients. The track is led by experienced researchers and clinicians and provides an ideal foundation for physicians who already are or want to become doctoral students in the field.

Activity plan

The research track consists of different activities.

Thematic meeting

Once a year, a thematic meeting is organised covering the physiology and pathology of the lungs and airways. It aims to create common knowledge between doctoral students working in different fields and is conceived as a classic ex-cathedra course held by leading/senior researchers with various academic credentials.

Since the aim is to talk to students from different backgrounds, it is necessary to use a language that can be understood by researchers coming from different departments/programmes. A preliminary list of broad topics (not necessarily corresponding to specific lectures) includes the following:

• Lung mechanics, circulation, gas exchange
• Non-respiratory functions of the lung
• Histology and cellular biology of cells in the respiratory system
• Pathophysiology of asthma, COPD, interstitial diseases, pneumonia, ARDS, sleep-disordered breathing, including biomarkers of disease
• Pharmacology of drugs acting on airways, epithelium and pulmonary circulation
• Mechanical ventilation (invasive and non-invasive) of the lungs
• Physics of inhaled drugs
• Study methods of respiratory function: cellular methods (cultures, biomaterials, etc.)
• Study methods of respiratory function: lung function testing - animal models, standard clinical methods, research methods.
• Study methods of respiratory function: imaging (CT, MR, PET, SRCT)
• Animal models of lung diseases (together with SLU)
• Biosensors and data acquisition methods (with the Department of Electrical Engineering at Uppsala University)

Brainstorming days

Lung-researchers’ brainstorming days. These events allow you to present your research to other young and experienced colleagues in a format that allows for open debate chaired by senior researchers.

Mono-thematic days

Promotion of mono-thematic days, organised by researchers from the different areas among the group of lung researchers.