center for microbe and Immunity Research

Inside the Science of Pediatric Lung Disease: A Special Section
Inside the Science of Pediatric Lung Disease: A Special Section 1024 624 Abbie Miller
colorful water color style illustration of lungs

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Our breath connects us with the moment, grounds us and has the power to calm our minds and bodies. But for millions of children, an easy breath is not guaranteed. Lung disease accounts for about a third of admissions to children’s hospitals. From the common culprits, such as asthma, to…

Beyond Modulators: Ensuring All Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Benefit From the Next Wave of Therapy
Beyond Modulators: Ensuring All Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Benefit From the Next Wave of Therapy 1024 618 Lauren Dembeck
Two smiling young children sit side by side indoors, facing the camera, with a colorful blurred artwork in the background.

Before CFTR modulators transformed care, cystic fibrosis (CF) was defined by relentless daily treatment and progressive lung disease. Children grew up with thick airway secretions, chronic cough, recurrent pulmonary infections, and frequent hospitalizations. Maintaining weight was a constant struggle, and lung function typically declined year after year despite aggressive airway clearance, antibiotics and nutritional support.…

Sickle Cell Lung Disease: Opportunities to Advance Care and Research
Sickle Cell Lung Disease: Opportunities to Advance Care and Research 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
A close-up medical illustration of blood vessels showing normal round red blood cells flowing through the vessel, with a cluster of rigid, crescent-shaped sickle cells causing a blockage. White blood cells are also visible against the dark background.

A series of studies aims to close gaps by integrating immunology, microbiology and environmental health into clinical research.  For children with sickle cell disease, lung complications remain among the most serious and least predictable drivers of morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in supportive care and disease-modifying therapies, clinicians still lack reliable tools to predict which…

Startups Update: Where Are They Now?
Startups Update: Where Are They Now? 1024 683 Madison Storm

From cutting-edge gene therapies to transformative medical devices, startups are redefining what’s possible in-patient care and technology. Born from pioneering research and nurtured through strategic collaborations, startups are tackling critical challenges—from neonatal care to oncology and rare genetic disorders—while advancing toward commercialization. Supported by the Office of Technology Commercialization, which facilitates the transfer of breakthrough…