The BREATH consortium helps define a new type of cell
The hope is that as the science advances damaged lungs can be repaired.
The BREATH consortium is a collaborative venture funded by the Netherlands Lung Foundation. It aims to move the translational science of lung regeneration forward. A member of the consortium Ed Morrisey recently published an extensive piece of research in which a new type of lung cell, Respiratory airway secretory cells (RASC) were identified. You can read the article here. A short and more accessible summary can be read here: Penn researchers discover new cell type in hu | EurekAlert!
One of the challenges of lung regeneration is understanding the role that all the different cell types have. If you want to stimulate them to grow more lung tissue, or you want to transplant cells that will then go on to develop new areas of lung tissue this type of understanding is key.
The BREATH consortium is an excellent example of venture philanthropy. It has a bold vision and the Netherlands Lung Foundation has done an excellent job of assembling a top class array of scientists in the consortium.
The consortium is led by Carla Kim (Boston Children’s Hospital Harvard Medical School) and includes: Hans Clevers (Hubrecht Institute), Melanie Koenigshoff (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), Oliver Eickleberg (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), Sam Janes (University College London), Paolo De Coppi (University College London), Ed Morrisey (University of Pennsylvania), and Reinoud Gossens (University of Groningen).
