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Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Center of Excellence The Foundation is establishing a Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Center of Excellence at the University of Chicago. The Foundation will invest $1,000,000 over three years commencing in the Fall of 2006. The Foundation believes that this grant will provide the University of Chicago with an opportunity to launch a major program in Pulmonary Fibrosis; an expanded program that will generate new ideas, promote translational research to enrich diagnostic and patient care programs and establish a nucleus of activity to advance scientific knowledge concerning the etiology and treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis. The grant will be used for the sole purpose of establishing the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Center of Excellence at The University of Chicago. All funds will be directed to the research, diagnostic and patient care efforts in Pulmonary Fibrosis. No administrative or indirect costs may be charged to this award. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Center of Excellence will be jointly led by Joe G.N. Garcia, M.D. Ph.D., Chairman of the Department of Medicine and Imre Noth, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director, University of Chicago Pulmonary Fibrosis Program. The research will be located at the Department of Medicine Laboratory and will utilize key members of its staff. The Foundation grant has as its core the hope that it can enable physician scientists to better understand the causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis and to more effectively treat pulmonary fibrosis and improve the chances for survival for many individuals with this devastating disease. Within the Center of Excellence there will be three integrated Cores. 1/ The Clinical Research Core where patients will be entered into a carefully phenotyped IPF and lung transplant database critical for the success of any genomic and genetic strategies. 2/ The Genomic and Genetic Core will oversee the extensive gene expression studies and genome wide association studies planned as part of this initiative. 3/ The Animal Model of Lung Disease Core will develop the radiation rodent model of pulmonary fibrosis and continue the exciting development of the lung transplant rodent model. Through these integrated Cores the following Strategic Aims will be met. 1/ Build a robust phenotype-intense clinical research database and Biobank in IPF and Lung Transplantation. 2/ Determine molecular signatures for patients with "stable" IPF or Lung Transplantation and those with rapid progression of disease. 3/ Conduct gene expression studies in humans and animal models to generate new candidate genes and novel molecular and therapeutic targets. 4/ Conduct genome wide association studies in deeply phenotyped cohort of IPF and Lung Transplant patients. 5/ Develop and implement an animal model of pulmonary fibrosis 6/ Develop and implement an animal model of lung transplantation. To maintain consistent contact, the University of Chicago Department of Medicine will provide quarterly on site updates on the work of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Center of Excellence. These meetings will provide an opportunity for Foundation officers and directors to talk directly with faculty and researchers involved in the center and address any questions or comments on a first hand basis. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Center of Excellence at The University of Chicago will be recognized with a plaque in the Department of Medicine laboratory space currently located in the Gordon Center for Integrated Science. In addition, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Center of Excellence at The University of Chicago will be cited on all research papers generated from the investment made. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (the "Foundation")
is a non-profit corporation founded in the state of Colorado in 2000
by Albert Rose and Michael Rosenzweig, Ph. D. and Dr. Marvin
Schwarz. The Foundation is a public foundation which is exempt from income tax under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service 1986, as amended (the "code"). Contributions to the foundation are tax deductible for income tax purposes under section 170 of the Code, for estate tax purposes under Section 2055 of the Code and for gift tax purposes under Section 2522 of the Code. Donations are being accepted to support the Center of Excellence
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