Chronic Airways Disease

Meakins faculty study the mechanisms of chronic airways diseases including asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis. A major focus of this research theme is to develop novel therapeutics for allergic inflammation & airway hyperresponsiveness. Our faculty research the cellular and molecular basis for irritant-induced lung diseases, including air pollution, cigarette smoke, cannabis, vaping, and chlorine, using a variety of in vivo and in vitro models. Our translational research evaluates patients with severe asthma and asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS) through the Severe Asthma Program at the MUHC, which is looking at the natural history of this diseases and airway inflammation endotypes. This research provides new insights into the biological basis for asthma phenotypes. The Meakins has a high-throughput tissue mechanics testing apparatus to study the contractile properties of airway smooth muscle and how it alters in response to inflammation. A translational research program on pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung diseases examines mechanisms of fibroblast metabolism and differentiation. A translational research program on rare respiratory diseases focuses on mechanistic studies and pediatric-to-adult transition care. Research on lung diseases across the lifespan is elucidating developmental origins of COPD by studying airway branching variations.