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Acute Lung Injury

Coordinator
EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR

Dr. Andrs Esteban
ACUTE LUNG INJURY

Having a strong scientific interest, the present ALI CRP is endowed with a clear trans-

lational relevance, aiming at solving questions of great social impact. Indeed, most
citizens will eventually require in their lifetime an intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

About one third of them require mechanical ventilation, of which over two thirds have

acute respiratory failure as the admitting diagnosis. Common causes of acute respiratory
failure are the conditions termed acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress

syndrome (ARDS). The social and economic impact of ALI and ARDS is documented by
the high associated mortality rate -around 50%-, as well as the important sequelae of

these patients, that often require prolonged rehabilitation treatment. This high mortality

is comparable to the mortality of other conditions such as acute myocardial infarction,
cancer or sepsis. However, funding from public or private agencies in this area is far from

enough. This paradox implies a huge social and economic problem, given the severity of

the disease, and the elevated cost of treatment, rehabilitation and work loss. The insuffi-
cient research in this field will not help solve these nationwide problems. Specifically, the

present corporative research project (CRP) is designed to help solving the clinical and
social problem of the early diagnosis and treatment of ALI.

Different groups of scientific excellence will participate in this research project, colla-

borating to accomplish a common objective: how to diagnose earlier and treat better

patients with ALI and ARDS in order to decrease their high morbidity and mortality.
Research questions include: (a) is there a specific diagnostic biomarker?; (b) which are

the intracellular signalling pathways involved in the development and repair of ALI?;

(c) which are the potential therapeutic targets based on involved pathways relevant
to pathogenesis?; (d) can we define specific patient subgroups that could benefit from

novel therapeutic approaches that will arise over the next 5 years?
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The different research groups will collaborate with an integrated systems biology ap- 20
proach. Biological samples from participating patients with ALI and ARDS (i. e., serum, T
OR
BAL fluid, etc.) will be collected for use in future investigations. These samples will be P
RE
stored in and managed by the CIBERES’ Biobank Platform.
L
A
The CRP is built on a limited number of WPs, defined to orchestrate in an efficient NU
manner the different research areas, aiming at the common objective of diagnosis and N
A
treatment of ALI/ARDS.
S /
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