History

The University of Rochester has a long tradition of conducting ground-breaking research in lung biology and pulmonary medicine. Starting in the 1950’s, pioneering studies into the physiology of respiration were conducted by Wallace O Fenn, Ph.D. and colleagues. Subsequently Dr. Richard Hyde, M.D. the first Pulmonary Medicine Chief, developed new methods for non-invasive measurement of gas transfer from the alveoli into the pulmonary capillary blood, which laid the foundation for a common pulmonary function test known as the carbon monoxide diffusing capacity. The study of surfactant composition and biophysical properties, and early clinical trials in surfactant replacement therapies in preterm infants was led by Dr. Don Shapiro, M.D., the first Pediatric Neonatology Chief, along with Drs. Jacob Finkelstein, Ph.D. and Robert Notter, M.D., Ph.D. The early 2000’s saw a tremendous expansion in the field of inhalation toxicology as Drs. Mark Frampton, M.D. and Mark Utell, M.D. in Medicine and Dr. Gunter Oberdorster, Ph.D., D.V.M in Environmental Medicine studied ultrafine particulate matter toxicity and created the University of Rochester Inhalation Facility. The Lung Biology and Disease program was established shortly afterwards led initially by Dr. Rick Phipps, Ph.D. as a forum for seminars, research-in-progress discussions, and the annual Lung Biology Research and Trainee Day. Over the past decade, pulmonary research has expanded to encompass studies of asthma and mucosal immunology, early origins of lung disease, lung-brain interactions, microplastics and other inhaled pollutants, cancer, and health disparities in respiratory health. 

Over these many years, we have trained hundreds of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who conducted innovative research into pulmonary physiology, lung biology, and cellular and molecular biology of the lung in health and disease (see Trainee Outcomes). Our program has been supported by different training grants for more than 30 years, including the new “Multidisciplinary Training in Pulmonary Research” training grant established in 2024. We invite you to join us as we train the next generation of physicians and scientists studying lung biology.