Pulmonology Research
Our Latest Notable Research
No. 20 in the Nation for Pulmonology and Lung Surgery
The Children’s Pulmonology and Lung Surgery Program ranks among the nation’s top 20 pediatric hospitals on the U.S. News & World Report list of “Best Children’s Hospitals” for Pulmonology and Lung Surgery. The report ranks hospitals for excellence in outcomes, program structure and national reputation in 10 pediatric specialty areas.
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Emory University, Our Primary Research and Academic Partner
Children’s and Emory University School of Medicine partner together on clinical trials, residencies and fellowships. More than 500 physicians hold titles at both institutions. Our research program has ranked in the top five nationally for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for nearly a decade.
Learn About EmoryThe Pulmonology Program at Children’s is ranked among the nation’s top leaders for Pulmonology and Lung Surgery by U.S. News & World Report. Our team is comprised of specialists with a commitment to advancing the collective knowledge around pulmonology and lung disease in kids. Through initiatives such as expanding the Georgia CF Data Warehouse and utilizing the largest population of children with sickle cell disease in the U.S., we improve outcomes for more than 19,000 patients. Our physicians conduct multiple studies on a national level and are involved in collaborative efforts in a time where pulmonology is as vital as ever with the rise of global respiratory illnesses.
Collaborations
Some of our research collaborations include:
AsthmaNet is a nationwide clinical research network created by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in 2009. The purpose of AsthmaNet is to develop and conduct multiple clinical trials that explore new approaches in treating asthma from childhood through adulthood. Children’s serves as one of 13 locations where clinical trials for AsthmaNet are conducted.
The Emory and Children’s cystic fibrosis program serves more pediatric and adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients than almost any other CF care center in the country. Children’s and Emory have established the Center for CF and Airways Disease Research (CF-AIR): a collaborative research team centered around translational and basic research in CF that takes advantage of the availability of CF patients at our Cystic Fibrosis Care Center and other assets at Children’s, Emory, Georgia Tech and elsewhere in Atlanta. This is achieved by supporting research projects and research cores that will draw together investigators with various expertise to solve critical problems associated with CF disease.
CF-AIR has worked with several other pediatric hospital and research institutions across the nation, to collaborate on studies such as this publication in the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis.
The Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP) is the world’s most comprehensive study of adults and children with severe asthma, linking seven asthma clinical university centers through a network sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Emory Children’s Center serves as one of the sites for pediatric participants. To date, more than 1,500 asthma patients have participated. The network’s mission is to improve the understanding of severe asthma to develop better treatments.
Leadership
- Benjamin Kopp, MD, MPH, ATSF, Co-Director, Emory and Children’s Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airways Disease Research | Emory profile
- Nael McCarty, PhD, Director, Emory and Children’s Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airways Disease Research | Emory profile
- Dawn Marie Simon, MD, Division Chief, Pulmonology, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis and Sleep | Emory profile
- Arlene Stecenko, MD, Co-Director, Emory and Children’s Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airways Disease Research | Emory profile
- Brian Vickery, MD, Division Chief, Allergy and Immunology | Emory profile
- Marvin Whiteley, PhD, Co-Director, Emory and Children’s Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airways Disease Research | Georgia Tech profile
Team
- Joshua Chandler, PhD | Emory profile
- Guiying Cui, PhD | Emory profile
- Tanicia Daley, MD, MPH | Emory profile
- Kimberly M. Dickinson, MD, MPH | Emory profile
- Anne Fitzpatrick, PhD, RN, APRN | Emory profile
- Joanna Goldberg, PhD | Emory profile
- Jocelyn Rebecca Grunwell, MD, PhD | Emory profile
- Lokesh Guglani, MD, FAAP | Emory profile
- Ajay Kasi, MD | Emory profile
- Gerald Lee, MD | Emory profile
- Roberta Leu, MD | Emory profile
- Rachel Linnemann, MD | Emory profile
- Kathryn Oliver, PhD | Emory profile
- Andras Rab, MD | Emory profile
- Michael Ripple, MD, PhD | Emory profile
- Vivek Shenoy, MD | Emory profile
- Eric Sorscher, MD | Emory profile
- Rabindra Tirouvanziam, PhD | Emory profile | Georgia Tech profile
- Snehal Kantilal Vala, MD | Emory profile
- Brittany Truitt, MD | Emory profile
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Clinical Trials
Children’s is involved in more than 1,200 clinical trials locally, nationally and abroad. Find or join one of our trials. Narrow your search by including a specific condition or disease.
Find Our Trials
People with cystic fibrosis with high sputum neutrophil elastase on elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor exhibit worse pulmonary function and pro-inflammatory airway milieu. Cammarata-Mouchtouris A, Giraldo DM, Collins GL, Parrilla MM, Kim SO, Mansour S, Giacalone VD, Cottrill KA, Tirouvanziam R, Chandler JD. Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 8.
Evaluating Georgia's Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening Algorithm to Inform Improvement Recommendations. Truitt B, Barr E, Wittenauer A, Jergel A, Bai S, Sanchez Russo R, Oliver KE, McKie K, Linnemann RW. Int J Neonatal Screen. 2025 Sep 29.
CFTR Variant Frequencies and Newborn Screening Panel Performance in the Diverse CF Population Receiving Care in the State of Georgia. Barr E, Truitt B, Jergel A, Bai S, McKie K, Sanchez Russo R, Oliver KE, Linnemann RW. Int J Neonatal Screen. 2025 Sep 26.
Evaluation of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor treatment in individuals with cystic fibrosis and CFTRN1303K in the USA: a prospective, multicentre, open-label, single-arm trial. Solomon GM, Linnemann RW, Rich R, Streby A, Buehler B, Hunter E, Vijaykumar K, Hunt WR, Brewington JJ, Rab A, Bai SP, Westbrook AL, McNicholas-Bevensee C, Hong J, Manfredi C, Barilla C, Suzuki S, Davis BR, Sorscher EJ. Lancet Respir Med. 2024 Dec.
An emotional journey: caregiver experiences with gastrostomy tube decision-making for children with cystic fibrosis. Dickinson KM, Smith BM, Green DM, Nasr S, Sawicki GS, Schechter MS, Riekert KA. J Cyst Fibros. 2024 Sep.
Nutritional status in the era of highly effective CFTR modulators. Bass R, Alvarez JA. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2024 Sep.
Diagnostic challenges in CFTR-related metabolic syndrome: Where the guidelines fall short. Kallam EF, Kasi AS, Barr E, Linnemann RW, Guglani L. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2024 Mar.
Clinician perspectives on barriers and solutions to symptom management in cystic fibrosis. Smirnova N, Trandel ET, Dubin E, Lowers J, Dellon EP, Hempstead S, Faro A, Tallarico E, Kavalieratos D. J Cyst Fibros. 2023 Nov.
Effect of GIP and GLP-1 infusion on bone resorption in glucose intolerant, pancreatic insufficient cystic fibrosis. Lei WS, Chen X, Zhao L, Daley T, Phillips B, Rickels MR, Kelly A, Kindler JM. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2025 Apr 7.
Key inflammatory markers in bronchoalveolar lavage predict bronchiectasis progression in young children with CF. Horati H, Margaroli C, Chandler JD, Kilgore MB, Manai B, Andrinopoulou ER, Peng L, Guglani L, Tiddens HAMW, Caudri D, Scholte BJ, Tirouvanziam R, Janssens HM. J Cyst Fibros. 2024 May.
Sweat induction using Pilocarpine microneedle patches for sweat testing in healthy adults. Chen JY, Li S, Silva GL, Chandler JD, Prausnitz MR, Guglani L.J Cyst Fibros. 2024 Jan.
Pilot study of inflammatory biomarkers in matched induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage of 2-year-olds with cystic fibrosis. Giacalone VD, Moncada-Giraldo D, Margaroli C, Brown MR, Silva GL, Chandler JD, Peng L, Tirouvanziam R, Guglani L; IMPEDE-CF Program. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2022 Sep.
Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from the Same Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Sample Coexist in Coculture. Bernardy EE, Raghuram V, Goldberg JB. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Aug 31.
Chiral Resolution, stereochemical assignment and correction of a cystic fibrosis-causing variant of Aryl-Triazolyl-methanol derivative. Marcelo Folhadella M.F. Azevedo, Rafael C. dos Santos, Mafalda Bacalhau, Carolina B.P. Ligiero, Amaro G. Barreto Jr, Miquéias Lopes-Pacheco, Camilla D. Buarque. Journal of Molecular Structure. Volume 1353, Part 1. 2026.
Irena Miralda Molina, MD, Hidden in Plain Sight: Rediscovering Mast Cells in Cystic Fibrosis. North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, Oct. 22, 2025, Seattle, WA.
Effects of hyperglycemia on airway epithelial barrier function in WT and CF 16HBE cells. Vazquez Cegla AJ, Jones KT, Cui G, Cottrill KA, Koval M, McCarty NA. Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 23.
Pulmonary exacerbations in early cystic fibrosis lung disease are marked by strong modulation of CD3 and PD-1 on luminal T cells. Giacalone VD, Giraldo DM, Silva GL, Hosten J, Peng L, Guglani L, Tirouvanziam R. Front Immunol. 2023 Sep 21.
Improvement of a mouse infection model to capture Pseudomonas aeruginosachronic physiology in cystic fibrosis. Duncan RP, Moustafa DA, Lewin GR, Diggle FL, Bomberger JM, Whiteley M, Goldberg JB. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Aug 13.
Substrate-dependent metabolomic signatures of myeloperoxidase activity in airway epithelial cells: Implications for early cystic fibrosis lung disease. Kim SO, Shapiro JP, Cottrill KA, Collins GL, Shanthikumar S, Rao P, Ranganathan S, Stick SM, Orr ML, Fitzpatrick AM, Go YM, Jones DP, Tirouvanziam RM, Chandler JD. Free Radic Biol Med. 2023 Sep.
Macrophage PD-1 associates with neutrophilia and reduced bacterial killing in early cystic fibrosis airway disease. Margaroli C, Horati H, Garratt LW, Giacalone VD, Schofield C, Dittrich AS, Rosenow T, Dobosh BS, Lim HS, Frey DL, Veltman M, Silva GL, Brown MR, Schultz C, Tiddens HAWM, Ranganathan S, Chandler JD, Qiu P, Peng L, Scholte BJ, Mall MA, Kicic A, Guglani L, Stick SM, Janssens HM, Tirouvanziam R. J Cyst Fibros. 2022 Nov.
Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS): Patient Quality of Life and Caregiver Burden. Rand CM, Pelissou J, Krishnamurthi N, Chapelle XP, Samuels M, Riccitelli M, Dokas L, Kasi A, Massenavette B, Lampin ME, Loire C, Weese-Mayer DE.Pediatr Pulmonol. 2025 Mar.
Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome and Disorders of Control of Ventilation. Kasi AS, Perez IA.Clin Chest Med. 2024 Sep.
Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome: Diagnosis and Long-Term Ventilatory Outcomes. Fain ME, Westbrook AL, Kasi AS. Clin Med Insights Pediatr. 2023 May 26.
Clinical Features of COVID-19 in Patients with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome. Kasi AS, Riccitelli M, Kun SS, Westbrook AL, Silva GL, Keens TG, Guglani L. Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol. 2023 Jun.
Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome: Optimizing Care with a Multidisciplinary Approach. Kasi AS, Li H, Harford KL, Lam HV, Mao C, Landry AM, Mitchell SG, Clifton MS, Leu RM. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2022 Mar 8.
Single-cell RNA-sequencing of circulating eosinophils fromasthmapatients reveals an inflammatory signature. Goss K, Grant ML, Caldwell C, Dallalio GA, Stephenson ST, Fitzpatrick AM, Horwitz EM.iScience. 2025 May 26.
Clinical and inflammatory features of traffic-related diesel exposure in children withasthma. Fitzpatrick AM, Mohammad AF, Desher K, Mutic AD, Stephenson ST, Dallalio GA, Grunwell JR.Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2024 Oct.
AsthmaControl and Associated Factors Among Children with CurrentAsthma- Findings from the 2019 Child Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System -AsthmaCall-Back Survey. Habte BM, Beyene KA, Patel SA, Fenta TG, Fitzpatrick AM. J Asthma Allergy. 2024 Jun 27.
Dysfunctional neutrophil type 1 interferon responses in preschool children with recurrent wheezing and IL-4-mediated aeroallergen sensitization. Fitzpatrick AM, Huang M, Mohammad AF, Stephenson ST, Kamaleswaran R, Grunwell JR.J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2024 Feb 13.
Environmental Injustice Is Associated With PoorerAsthmaOutcomes in School-Age Children WithAsthmain MetropolitanAtlanta, Georgia. Grunwell JR, Mutic AD, Ezhuthachan ID, Mason C, Tidwell M, Caldwell C, Norwood J, Zack S, Jordan N, Fitzpatrick AM.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024 May.
Altered Symptom Perception in Children WithAsthmaIs Associated With Poor Childhood Opportunity and Adverse Outcomes. Fitzpatrick AM, Kavalieratos D, Vickery BP, Lee T, Mason C, Grunwell JR.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024 Apr.
Metabolomics identifies disturbances in arginine, phenylalanine, and glycine metabolism as differentiating features of exacerbating atopicasthmain children. Cottrill KA, Chandler JD, Kobara S, Stephenson ST, Mohammad AF, Tidwell M, Mason C, Van Dresser M, Patrignani J, Kamaleswaran R, Fitzpatrick AM, Grunwell JR.J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2023 Aug.
Functional immunophenotyping of blood neutrophils identifies novel endotypes of viral response in preschool children with recurrent wheezing. Fitzpatrick AM, Mohammad AF, Huang M, Stephenson ST, Patrignani J, Kamaleswaran R, Grunwell JR.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023
The Fungal Microbiome of the Upper Airway Is Associated With Future Loss of AsthmaControl and Exacerbation Among Children With Asthma. Yuan H, Liu Z, Dong J, Bacharier LB, Jackson D, Mauger D, Boushey H, Castro M, Durack J, Huang YJ, Lemanske RF Jr, Storch GA, Weinstock GM, Wylie K, Covar R, Fitzpatrick AM, Phipatanakul W, Robison RG, Beigelman A, Zhou Y.Chest. 2023 Aug.
Association ofAsthmaWith Treatments and Outcomes in Children With Critical Influenza. Maddux AB, Grunwell JR, Newhams MM, Chen SR, Olson SM, Halasa NB, Weiss SL, Coates BM, Schuster JE, Hall MW, Nofziger RA, Flori HR, Gertz SJ, Kong M, Sanders RC Jr, Irby K, Hume JR, Cullimore ML, Shein SL, Thomas NJ, Miller K, Patel M, Fitzpatrick AM, Phipatanakul W, Randolph AG; PALISI Pediatric Intensive Care Influenza Network Investigators.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023 Mar.
Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in obstructive sleep apnea and its relation to disease severity. Milligan I, Shaw AK, Leu R, Kanaan U, Michelfelder E.J Clin Sleep Med. 2024 May 1.
Outpatient Utilization of the RAM Cannula for Nasal Noninvasive Ventilation in Children. Truitt BA, Kallam EF, Price EW, Shah AS, Simon DM, Kasi AS.Clin Med Insights Pediatr. 2023 Aug 19.
Increasing access to evidence-based insomnia care in the United States: findings from an American Academy of Sleep Medicine stakeholder summit. Schotland H, Wickwire E, Aaronson RM, Dawson SC, Khosla S, Lee-Iannotti JK, Leu RM, Lewin DS, McCrae CS, Neubauer D, Ong JC, Heffron TM, Whittington C, Martin JL.J Clin Sleep Med. 2024 Mar 1.
Sleep disturbances in parental caregivers and patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. Finch CE, Leu RM, Harford KL, Westbrook AL, Kasi AS.J Clin Sleep Med. 2023 Mar 1.
Cryoextraction via flexible bronchoscopy in children with tracheobronchial obstruction. Truitt BA, Kasi AS, Kamat PP, Fundora MP, Simon DM, Guglani L.Pediatr Pulmonol.
Sweat induction using Pilocarpine microneedle patches for sweat testing in healthy adults. Chen JY, Li S, Silva GL, Chandler JD, Prausnitz MR, Guglani L.J Cyst Fibros. 2024 Jan.
Annual PM2.5 exposure and clinical, laboratory, and stroke-risk outcomes in pediatric sickle cell disease. George PE, Kalmus G, Lipscomb J, Howard DH, Kopp B, Lam WA, Ebelt S.JCI Insight. 2025 Jun 9;10(11):e190648. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.190648. eCollection 2025 Jun 9.
Altered nasal and oral microbiomes define pediatric sickle cell disease. Crouch AL, Severance BM, Creary S, Hood D, Bailey M, Mejias A, Ramilo O, Gillespie M, Ebelt S, Sheehan V, Kopp BT, Anderson MZ. mSphere. 2025 Jun 25;10(6):e0013725. doi: 10.1128/msphere.00137-25. Epub 2025 May 14.
Updates in Pediatric Sickle Cell Lung Disease. Gillespie M, Afolabi-Brown O, Machogu E, Willen S, Kopp BT. Clin Chest Med. 2024 Sep.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of CRMS/CFSPID Green DM, Lahiri T, Raraigh KS, Ruiz F, Spano J, Antos N, Bonitz L, Christon L, Gregoire-Bottex M, Hale JE, Langfelder-Schwind E, La Parra Perez Á, Maguiness K, Massie J, McElroy-Barker E, McGarry ME, Mercier A, Munck A, Oliver KE, Self S, Singh K, Smiley M, Snodgrass S, Tluczek A, Tuley P, Lomas P, Wong E, Hempstead SE, Faro A, Ren CL. Pediatrics. 2024 May 1.