Research

Respirologists at the Complex Airways Program actively participate in clinical trials through the Respiratory Clinical Trials Centre, conducting both industry sponsored and investigator-led research in airways disease. For more information about the research program, go to the website:  https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/research/anewbreath/anewbreath

The U of C IPM group is continuously involved in a variety of investigator driven local studies, multi-center collaborative studies as well as industry sponsored contract research in the fields of bronchoscopy, pleural disease, lung cancer screening, diagnostics and biomarker studies. A range of projects from in-vivo lab studies to prospective randomized clinical trials, procedure registries and database studies are and have been performed by the group.

Current Projects

• Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Program
• Screening of Alberta Asbestos Exposed Workers for Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma
• Role of Bronchoscopy for Intracavitary Aspergilloma Removal
• Role of Genetics in Idiopathic Tracheal Stenosis
• EMPROVE Study of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction
• EBUS TBNA with 19G Device
• Use of the Periplex Needle for Sampling of Lung Lesions
• Impact of EBUS-TBNA on False Positive PET/CT Findings
• Use of Cryobiopsy to Assess Airway Changes Associated with Bronchial Thermoplasty in Asthmatics
• Prevalence and Treatment of Pleural Effusions in Hospitalized Patients - Analysis of the NIS Database
• Role of ROSE and ultrathin bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of SPN
• Biomarkers in lung cancer screening and lung nodule evaluation
• Investigational therapies for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
• The Stather Canadian Outcomes registry for chest procedures-SCOPE Registry
• Narrow Band Imaging in patients with suspected sarcoidosis
• Role of Bronchoscopy for Intracavitary Aspergilloma Removal
• Optimal approach to thoracentesis drainage

The University of Calgary is recognized internationally for pioneering work in the pathophysiology of sleep disordered breathing over the last 40 years. Research continues to be an important focus, with current programs exploring novel biomarkers for obstructive sleep apnea, barriers to access to sleep disorders care and innovative models to mitigate those barriers, and bench-to-bedside research that elucidates the mechanisms of disease in experimental animal and human models. The FMC Sleep Centre also participates in industry sponsored clinical trials that seek to broaden the treatment options for patients who struggle sleep disorders.

Through past and current research, we have established strong collaborative relationship with basic scientists at the University of Calgary, clinical researchers across Canada, and research networks globally. Researchers at the FMC Sleep Centre were among the founding members of the Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network, a multicentre research development team grant funded by CIHR and several partners across Canada. Research is supported by funding from CIHR, The Lung Association, NIH, as well as industry partners and donors. The FMC Sleep Centre also hosts biweekly Sleep & Respiration Rounds, at which local or visiting speakers present to the sleep community on cutting edge research and clinical topics.

The Calgary Tuberculosis Clinic is a member of the CAB-V (Canada, Australia, Benin, Vietnam) TB research consortium and participates in CIHR and NIH (in association with the TB Trials Consortium of CDC) funded research.  The clinic has recently completed the 2R2 trial investigating 2 months of high dose rifampin compared to standard 4 months of rifampin treatment. The clinic is currently recruiting participants to investigate 6 weeks of rifapentine compared to standard of care 4 months of rifampin. Additional research interests of the group include guideline-based treatment of TB, de-isolation of pulmonary TB cases, quality improvement of LTBI testing and treatment, video directly observed therapy, drug-resistant tuberculosis, and qualitative research in TB education.

• Edwards BD, Edwards J, Cooper R, Kunimoto D, Somayaji R, Fisher D. Rifampin-Resistant/Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Alberta, Canada: Epidemiology and Treatment Outcomes in a Low-Incidence Setting. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(2):e0246993. 
• Oxalde O, Benedetti A, Adjobimey M, Alsdurf H, Anagonou S, Cook VJ, Fisher D, Fox GJ, Fregonese F, Hadisoemarto P, Hill PC, Johnston J, Khan FA, Long R, Nguyen NV, Nguyen TA, Obeng J, Fuslami R, Schwartzman K, Trajman A, Valiquette C, Menzies D. The Public Health Impact of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Management: The ACT4 Cluster Randomized Trial. Lancet Public Health.
• Bedingfield N, Lashewicz B, Fisher D, King-Shier K. Improving Infectious TB Education for Foreign-Born Patients and Family Members. Health Education Journal. December 2021. DOI 10.1177/00178969211061522
• Mah JK, Lieu A, Fisher D, Lim RK. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Epidemiology of TB in a Low-Incidence Setting. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2023 Jan 1;27(1):69-71. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.22.0378. 
• Thornton C, Mellett M, Barss L, Jarand J, Field S, Fisher DA. The Respiratory Microbiome and Nontuberculous Mycobacterium: An Emerging Concern in Human Health. European Respiratory Review May 2021;30(160).200299. doi:10.1183116000617.0299-2020
• Lau, A., Lin C, Barrie J, Winter, C, Armstrong G, Egedahl M, Doroshenko A, Heffernan C, Asadi L, Fisher D, Paulsen C, Moolji J, Long R. The Radiographic and Mycobacteriologic Correlates of Subclinical Pulmonary TB in Canada: A Retrospective Cohort Study. CHEST 2022 162(2):309-320. DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.01.047
• Edwards B, Field SK. The Struggle to end a Millennia-Long Pandemic: New and Repurposed Drugs for the Treatment of Tuberculosis. Drugs 2022:82(18):1695-1715. Doi:10.10007/s-40265-022-01817-w. Epub 2022 Dec 7. PMID:36479687