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Our Alliance

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Mission of the ILD Community Network

To unite, empower, and support individuals and organizations in advancing awareness, research, and care for those impacted by Interstitial Lung Disease.

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Connect to ILD experts in your region

Partner with trusted ILD experts in your region to unlock your potential and achieve your goals.

ILD EXPERTS

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Naomi Amudala

CRNP, MSN

Naomi Amudala, CRNP, MSN, is a highly experienced nurse practitioner specializing in rheumatology at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2009 with a Master’s in Nursing, Naomi joined the division of Rheumatology at Boston University. Her primary focus was evaluating and managing patients with vasculitis as well as acting as co-investigator in multiple clinical trials in vasculitis. In 2018 she moved to Philadelphia and started working at Penn Medicine Rheumatology. The majority of her time continues to be dedicated to the clinical care of patients with vasculitis and other rare diseases as well as engaging in research. In 2022 Naomi joined the board of directors for RhAPP, which is a national organization for APPs and pharmacists in Rheumatology.

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Christine Anderson

NP-C

Christine Anderson, NP-C, is a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonology at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina. She is originally from Canada and graduated from The University of Western Ontario with a Bachelors in Science in Nursing in London, Ontario back in 1999. After graduation, she moved to Durham, NC to start a nursing career at Duke University Health System. The majority of her nursing career has been in cardiology from Cardiac Step-Down to Cardiac Intensive Care Unit to the Cardiac Cath Lab. In 2005, Christine obtained a Masters in Science in Nursing with a Leadership focus and became the nurse manager of the Electrophysiology Lab at Duke Hospital. After downsizing the department, she moved over to the Duke Clinical Research Institute as a nurse clinician working on cardiology clinical trials. She truly missed patient care and went back to school and graduated with a post-master’s certificate as an Adult-Gerontologic Nurse Practitioner in 2015. Christine worked at Duke Cardiology of Lumberton for one year before coming back to main campus of Duke University Hospital and starting a new career in pulmonary medicine. Now she is the nurse practitioner for the Duke Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic where she still practices. For her last hurrah, Christine went back to school for a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree that was awarded in 2019. Her graduate project was “Using a Smart Phrase to Improve Documentation of Supportive Care Measures in Patients with IPF”. This paper was published in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners and was presented at conferences such as the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and Chest. Christine loves working with ILD patients and have learned so much over the past 9 years working in our clinic. She have been speaking about IPF and progressive ILD for past several years and have so much fun sharing my knowledge with Advanced Care Providers and providers alike.

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Lisa Asfahani

PA-C

Lisa Asfahani DHSc, PA-C is a certified and state licensed Physician Assistant practicing in Rheumatology at Southland Arthritis in Temecula, California. Lisa graduated from California State Polytechnic University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Sciences from Loma Linda University in 2011 and her Doctorate degree in Health Sciences from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in 2022. Lisa is experienced in both Rheumatology as well as in General Medicine and involved in numerous clinical studies in the field of Rheumatology. She is a member of several professional societies including the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP), California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA), and RhAPP. Lisa’s goal in patient care is to treat each patient/provider interaction as an opportunity serve, to teach, and to heal. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family whenever she can.

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Heather Bachert

NP

Heather D. Bachert, NP, is a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and specializes in interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis (PF) at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. She earned her advanced practice training at Wayne State University and the University of Saskatchewan and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In addition to her clinical role, Heather leads patient support groups for individuals living with ILD and PF, providing education, guidance, and a sense of community. Known for her compassionate and thorough approach, she is highly regarded by patients for her ability to explain complex conditions clearly and provide attentive follow-up care. She is currently accepting new patients and also offers telehealth services.

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Shannon Benesh

DNP, NP-C

Shannon Benesh, DNP, RN-BC, AGNP-C, is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Interstitial Lung Disease at Columbia University Irving Medical Center within the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care. She earned her BSN from James Madison University and her MSN from Adelphi University, later completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Stony Brook University with a project focused on early advance care planning in ILD. Shannon has clinical experience as an RN at leading academic hospitals across various specialties and is certified as a Progressive Care Certified Nurse and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. She is an active member of AANP, has contributed to published ILD research, and participates in national advisory boards dedicated to improving ILD care. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their dog and enjoys traveling, reading, running, and the occasional cocktail.

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Kelley Brant

NP

Kelley Brant, NP, is a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonology at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 17 years of diverse clinical experience, Kelley Brant is a dedicated healthcare professional with a passion for advancing pulmonary care. A graduate of San Diego State University with a BSN, Kelley began her career as a registered nurse in high-acuity settings, including the emergency room, ICU, and urgent care, where she honed her ability to excel in fast-paced, multidisciplinary environments. Kelley earned her MSN from the University of South Alabama and is double board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Emergency Nurse Practitioner. For the past 2.5 years, Kelley has served as a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonary medicine, with a particular focus in interstitial lung disease (ILD). As an ILD program coordinator, Kelley has gained experience in managing complex patient populations and remains actively involved in general pulmonary care, including COPD, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Kelley also has a strong interest in research, supporting her facility’s participation in several randomized controlled trials to advance evidence-based practice. Beyond clinical work, Kelley is committed to fostering connections within the healthcare community. As a member of AANP, CHEST, and Utah Nurse Practitioners, she emphasizes professional development and collaboration to improve patient outcomes and advance the field of pulmonary care.

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Michele Cerra

MSN, FNP-BC

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April Conlon

NP-C

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Kelsey Cramer

MSN, AGACNP-BC, DNP

Kelsey Cramer, MSN, AGACNP-BC, DNP, is a board-certified adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonary medicine at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. She focuses on interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary hypertension (PH), and sarcoidosis. Kelsey earned her MSN and DNP from Rush University and is dedicated to delivering patient-centered care, education, and support for those managing complex lung conditions.

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Kristy Delaney

APRN

Kristy Delaney, APRN, is a pulmonary nurse practitioner specializing in interstitial lung disease at The University of Kansas Health System. She has over 21 years of experience in medicine, beginning her career as a bedside RN in the Medical ICU before becoming an APRN. For the past 9 years, she has focused her practice on ILD. In addition to her clinical expertise, Kristy holds a degree in Education and is passionate about empowering patients, caregivers, and fellow healthcare professionals through education and support in the management of ILD.

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Rebekah Edwards

DNP, FNP-C

Rebekah Edwards, DNP, FNP-C, is a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonology at Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University and is experienced in pulmonology, cardiology, and thoracic surgery. She also received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Arizona State University and has practiced in pulmonology ever since.

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Mary Elliott

PA-C, PhD

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Kathryn Fenwick

CRNP, DNP

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Heather Finlayson

PA-C

Heather Finlayson, MS, PA-C, is a certified Physician Assistant specializing in rheumatology for Summit Rheumatology in Littleton, Colorado. She previously worked at National Jewish Health Rheumatology and started at Colorado Arthritis Associates in Rheumatology in 2012. She has also taught rheumatology courses at Rocky Vista University PA program since 2022. Heather is a member of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP) (division of American College of Rheumatology-ACR), and the Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR). She is currently the AWIR Denver Local Chapter Co-Lead, a Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP) faculty member and has served on several ACR/ARP committees.

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Cori Fratelli

MSN, FNP-C

Cori Fratelli, MSN, FNP-C, is a nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonology at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado. She has a unique background in both basic science and clinical research, which has informed her interest in clinical medicine. Her past basic science research includes asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer. Her past clinical research includes COPD and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Presently, she is interested in how research translates into personalized medicine. Her clinical focus is mainly on ILD, but she also sees general pulmonary medicine patients, as needed.

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Kyle George

PA-C

Kyle George, PA-C, is a physician assistant with over 16 years of experience in rheumatology at Saint Luke's Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. He specializes in managing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Kyle collaborates with a multidisciplinary team, providing personalized and comprehensive care to his patients.

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Shannon Ghizzoni

PA-C

Shannon Ghizzoni, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in rheumatology at the Columbus Arthritis Center in Columbus, Ohio. With a passion for providing comprehensive care to patients with rheumatic conditions, Shannon focuses on patient education, disease management, and improving quality of life. She is dedicated to staying current with the latest advancements in rheumatology and fostering collaborative relationships with patients and healthcare teams to deliver personalized, evidence-based care.

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Courtney Gibbons

NP

Courtney Gibbons, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, is a dedicated Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner. With empathy, and compassion, Courtney is committed to delivering evidence-based, patient-centered care to individuals living with complex lung conditions. Her nurse practitioner career has been devoted to pulmonary medicine, to improve quality of life and empower patients. Courtney earned her License at Tyler Junior College then advanced to Registered Nurse in 2016 after completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Indiana State University, and later earned her Master of Science in Nursing with an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2021. Throughout her career, Courtney has been recognized for her dedication to clinical excellence and compassionate care, receiving the Houston Methodist ICARE Award and being named among the Houston Chronicle’s Top 150 Nurses of 2020.

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Audrey Gibson

PA-C, MsPAS

Audrey Gibson, MSPAS, PA-C is a board-certified rheumatology physician assistant at the Arthritis Center of North Georgia in Gainesville, Georgia. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from Lipscomb University and earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from South University in Savannah, Georgia. Audrey is a certified densitometrist with a clinical focus on rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthropathies, inflammatory myopathies, and osteoporosis. She is an active member of the Society of Physician Assistants in Rheumatology, the Georgia Society of Rheumatology, the American College of Rheumatology, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Audrey also serves as a faculty advisor for the Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP).

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Jessica Glennie

CNP

Jessica Glennie, CNP, is a certified nurse practitioner, specializing in pulmonology, who has worked in outpatient pulmonary medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio for 8 years. She manages patients in the interstitial lung disease program, including care of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, autoimmune related interstitial lung disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, occupational lung diseases, and drug-induced interstitial lung disease. She is co-director of the Cleveland Clinic’s ILD multidisciplinary conference.

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Macrophage in the Crosshairs: Chemical Inhalation and Lung Immune Defense

calJune 2026

Pulmonary macrophages are central regulators of lung injury and repair following acute inhalation of toxic chemicals. Strategically positioned within the airspaces and lung parenchyma, resident macrophage populations act as first responders that sense epithelial and endothelial injury, initiate sterile inflammatory responses, and coordinate immune cell recruitment, thereby influencing whether injury resolves or progresses to chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Recent advances have revealed...

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Long-term safety and pulmonary function stabilization with nintedanib in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease, 2020-2025: a real-world retrospective study from a reference centre

calJune 2026

Randomized trials have demonstrated that nintedanib is beneficial for Systemic Sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) with an acceptable safety profile. We evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of nintedanib in a real-world SSc-ILD cohort. Medical records of SSc patients receiving nintedanib for newly diagnosed fibrotic or progressive ILD between 2020 and 2025 in our center were retrospectively reviewed. Forced vital capacity (FVC%) and diffusing capacity for carbon...

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Impact of nocturnal oxygen supplementation on sleep quality and daytime fatigue among interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients

calJune 2026

A collection of more than 300 conditions known as interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) limit oxygen delivery by generating persistent inflammation and irreversible lung tissue scarring, or fibrosis. There is progressive impairment of gas exchange and are frequently complicate by nocturnal hypoxemia. It remains under-recognized despite its significant impact on sleep quality and daytime functioning. Therefore, it is of interest to report the effect of nocturnal oxygen supplementation on sleep...

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Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in HER2-expressing gynecological malignancies: Clinical evidence, safety profile, and future directions

calJune 2026

Endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers in advanced or recurrent stages are associated with unfavorable outcomes, emphasizing the need for effective targeted approaches. While HER2 has been identified as a key biomarker in selected high-grade tumors, prior HER2-targeted therapies have yielded inconsistent results. This review discusses the underlying biology, clinical outcomes, safety considerations, and evolving application of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in HER2-positive gynecological...

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Clinical course, treatment and outcome of severe pneumocystis pneumonia in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases: a prospective study

calJune 2026

CONCLUSIONS: PCP is life-threatening in AID patients. Beyond baseline hypoxemia, early follow-up variables, particularly initial treatment failure and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, are critical prognostic indicators, warranting further research to drive understanding of their causes.

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Senicapoc in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis or Other Progressive Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Diseases: Protocol for a Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicentre Phase II Trial

calJune 2026

Background/Objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other progressive fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (F-ILD) are characterised by progressive loss of lung function, worsening symptoms, and poor prognosis. Current antifibrotic therapies slow disease progression but do not arrest or reverse fibrosis and are frequently associated with adverse effects. Senicapoc, a selective KCa3.1 channel inhibitor, has shown antifibrotic effects in preclinical models, human lung myofibroblasts, and...

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Host, Pathogen, and Pulmonary Anatomy in Pneumonia: An Integrated Imaging and Clinical Perspective

calJune 2026

Pneumonia remains a major global health concern, particularly among elderly and immunocompromised populations, and is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burden. It is a heterogeneous infectious disease caused by a wide variety of microorganisms, resulting in diverse imaging manifestations and characteristic patterns of pulmonary distribution. Despite advances in microbiological diagnostics and imaging, the literature still lacks a comprehensive overview integrating...

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Lung Auscultation for Detecting Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Systemic Sclerosis: Retrospective Cohort Study

calJune 2026

Background/Objectives: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) occurs commonly in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and is the leading cause of mortality. There are limited data on the accuracy of lung auscultation in identifying the presence of ILD in patients with SSc. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with newly diagnosed SSc who had documented lung auscultation findings and chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) available for review. Diagnoses were made by rheumatologists at Mayo...

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Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutic Advances in Idiopathic and Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis: From Approved Drugs to Emerging Strategies

calJune 2026

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are frequently characterized by the presence of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), which may lead to respiratory failure secondary to irreversible parenchymal distortion. Although idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the clinical prototype, the emergence of the progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) phenotype has shifted the therapeutic paradigm toward shared pathogenic pathways while preserving the need to recognize the biological and clinical heterogeneity of the...

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Exploratory Real-World Observations on Pulmonary Function Evolution, HRCT Patterns, and Antifibrotic Escalation in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease Treated with Mycophenolate Mofetil

calJune 2026

Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is widely used as first-line immunosuppressive therapy; however, real-world descriptions of pulmonary functional and radiologic evolution during MMF therapy remain limited, particularly according to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) pattern. Objectives: To descriptively evaluate pulmonary function evolution, radiologic...

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A Spatiotemporal Transformer Framework on 4D-CT for Early Prediction of Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis

calJune 2026

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) remains difficult to predict because static imaging may not fully capture regional respiratory motion, ventilation heterogeneity, and mechanical deformation. We propose a spatiotemporal transformer (ST-Former) framework that jointly models dynamic lung deformation, ventilation, and regional strain from four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT). The model integrates CT intensity, deformable registration-derived displacement magnitude, Jacobian-based...

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Oxygen therapy in interstitial lung disease - navigating benefit and burden

calJune 2026

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Oxygen therapy is a key component of interstitial lung disease (ILD) management. This review summarizes the current evidence and explores how to balance its benefits and burdens in people with ILD.

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Multimodal ultrasound for precise quantitative evaluation of diaphragmatic lesions in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: a promising assessment tool

calJune 2026

CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal ultrasound enables the early detection and quantitative monitoring of diaphragmatic impairment in IIM. Viscoelastic parameters, particularly the Vi, may aid in the identification of patients with respiratory involvement. Diaphragmatic functional parameters (excursion and the DTF) are responsive to treatment and may serve as objective biomarkers for monitoring the therapeutic response, complementing conventional serological assessments.

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Latin American expert opinion paper on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease

calJune 2026

Pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) represents a major clinical challenge due to its impact on prognosis and the complexity of diagnosis and management. The objective of this work was to develop practical, region-specific guidelines primarily aimed at supporting healthcare professionals in Latin America. A multidisciplinary working group of Latin American experts in PH-ILD developed an expert opinion paper, from which a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm...

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Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia Triggered by Carbamazepine Therapy: A Clinical and Radiologic Case Report

calJune 2026

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is a type of interstitial lung disease characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the lung parenchyma and can present as acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Certain medications, including carbamazepine, have been rarely implicated in eosinophilic pulmonary syndromes and delayed systemic hypersensitivity reactions with pulmonary involvement. In this case, we report a 50-year-old man who developed acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) characterized by diffuse...

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Prevalence of anxiety and depression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

calJune 2026

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anxiety and depression in IPF patients is substantial and is significantly influenced by the assessment tool used: estimates based on ICD-10 clinical diagnoses are substantially lower than those derived from screening tools. Therefore, future large-scale, high-quality studies employing standardized assessment tools are needed to accurately evaluate the psychiatric comorbidity burden in IPF patients, thereby providing robust evidence for the development of targeted...

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Window of opportunity with abatacept in Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: A multicentre study of 526 patients

calJune 2026

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and optimal treatment strategies remain unclear. Abatacept (ABA) is supported by observational evidence, but the impact of early initiation on pulmonary outcomes is unknown.

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Progressive pulmonary fibrosis: a state-of-the-art review

calJune 2026

Fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompasses a large number of diverse conditions, the prototype being idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), characterized by irreversible progression, accounting for loss of lung function, exercise intolerance, and complications especially acute exacerbation and respiratory failure leading to early mortality. A significant proportion of patients with fibrosing ILDs other than IPF will develop a progressive phenotype comparable to IPF. Progression occurs...

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Evaluation and Management of Genetic Respiratory Disorders Presenting as Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in the Newborn Infant

calJune 2026

Hypoxemic respiratory failure is a common reason for admission to the neonatal intensive care unit for term and late preterm infants. Some infants have rare disorders due to genetic mechanisms including surfactant dysfunction disorders, alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of the pulmonary veins, and other developmental lung disorders that result in more severe, persistent, and even fatal disease. In this article, we summarize clinical characteristics of the most common causes of...

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AI-driven discovery of bronopol for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis via inhibition of fibroblast activation

calJune 2026

AIMS: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Epigenetic regulation by p300 histone acetyltransferase plays a central role in fibroblast activation and fibrotic gene transcription. This study aimed to identify novel p300 inhibitors from an FDA-regulated compound library using integrated computational approaches and to evaluate their anti-fibrotic potential.