University of Michigan Joins American Lung Association Airways Clinical Research Centers Network,

New centers added to network to expand reach of asthma, COPD clinical trials to improve quality of life for patients nationwide and in Michigan

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ACRC Principal Investigators at the University of Michigan - (l to r) Dr. MeiLan Han and Dr. Alan Baptist

MADISON HEIGHTS MI (06/08/2016)(readMedia)-- The University of Michigan is one of five new facitilities to join the American Lung Association Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) network, which conducts nationwide clinical trials to provide vital information about caring for people who have asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The ACRC network, a key component of the American Lung Association Research Team, also extends to residents of Michigan through this new partnership with the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor..

"It's vital for those suffering from lung disease to have access to the best treatment options available, including the 1,063,783 asthma patients and 681,782 COPD patients living here in Michigan" said Harry Perlstadt, PhD, MPH who represents Michigan locally and on the American Lung Association National Board "Through the Airways Clinical Research Centers network, we are able to participate and coordinate with large clinical trials that directly impact patient care. The American Lung Association is proud to partner with the University of Michigan to advance research to improve the quality of life for those living with COPD and asthma here locally and nationwide."

Drs. MeiLan Han and Alan Baptist are the principal investigators for the American Lung Association Airways Clinical Research Center (ACRC) at University of Michigan Health Systems. Dr. Han is a pulmonologist with expertise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Dr. Baptist is an allergist with expertise in asthma.

The clinical research program is located in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan Hospital and at the Domino's Farms location. Separate areas also serve as clinical facilities for asthma and COPD patients at each location.

The ACRC network is the nation's largest not-for-profit network of clinical research centers dedicated to asthma and COPD treatment research.

Consisting of 17 clinical research centers across the country and a data coordinating center managed by a team at Johns Hopkins University, the ACRC network attracts some of the best investigators nationwide.

Other new research centers added to the network include:

  • University of California, San Francisco
  • University of Washington, Seattle
  • Temple University Health System, Lung Center, Philadelphia and
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Through the ACRC network, clinical trials around the country are currently in progress and at various stages of completion. The outcomes of these studies will help shape the nature of care for people with asthma and COPD. Continuing and expanded research centers in the ACRC network include:

• Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

• University of Arizona, Tucson

• University of California, San Diego

• National Jewish Health (Denver) and Mt. Sinai Icahn School of Medicine (New York, N.Y.)

• Nemours Children's Health System, Jacksonville and Orlando Fla.

• The Illinois Consortium: Northwestern University, Rush University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill.

• New York Consortium: Columbia University, New York University Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, N.Y.

• Washington University at St. Louis

• Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.

• St. Vincent Hospital and Health Care Center, Inc., Indianapolis

• University of South Florida, Tampa, and

• University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Vermont Lung Center, Colchester, Vt.

The ACRC network, formerly known as the Asthma Clinical Research Centers, was originally focused on asthma, and in 2015 expanded its research scope to include COPD, the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is part of the larger American Lung Association Research team, conducting research on lung disease nationwide.

For media interested in speaking with an expert about lung health, research efforts and outcomes of the Airways Clinical Research Centers network, contact the American Lung Association in Michigan at midland@lung.org or at 419-744-0400.