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<\/a>The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) announced on Dec. 7 the expansion of its nationwide Care Center Network with the selection of seven additional sites, including The\u202fUniversity of North Carolina (UNC)\u202fInterstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Center.<\/p>\nThe PFF\u2019s Care Center Network, a group of medical centers with expertise in accurately diagnosing and treating individuals with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), now has 81 sites in 35 states. The seven new sites will increase access to high-quality care and services that are crucial to the local PF community.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur acceptance into the PFF Care Center Network is an important milestone in the growth of our ILD Center and will provide opportunities for collaboration with leading ILD clinicians and researchers from across the country,\u201d said Jason Lobo, MD<\/a>, director of the UNC ILD Center. \u201cIn the UNC ILD Center, we care for patients as part of a multidisciplinary team made up of outstanding clinicians and researchers in pulmonology, radiology, pathology and rheumatology. We are committed to clinical investigation into the causes and development of effective therapies for these challenging and diverse diseases,” added Brent Kinder,<\/a> MD, co-director of the UNC ILD Center.<\/p>\n The mission of the UNC ILD Center is\u202fto provide state of the art\u202f\u200b\u200bdiagnostic testing, therapies, and care for its patients. The center gives guidance to patients and providers regarding the management of interstitial lung disease and is working to improve the\u202f\u200bdiagnostic process and treatment options\u202ffor interstitial lung diseases through research and\u202f\u200bclinical trials.<\/p>\n \u201cOur seven new members of the PFF Care Center Network have demonstrated leadership in the field of pulmonology and pulmonary fibrosis. Their healthcare teams are committed to providing comprehensive care and support for people living with PF and ILD and their families,\u201d said Jessica Shore, PhD, RN, vice president, clinical affairs and quality for the PFF.<\/p>\n Healthcare providers at Care Centers collaborate with the PFF to actively engage their local PF communities with resources including support groups, educational activities and materials for patients, caregivers and their loved ones. The PFF also coordinates with sites on research projects.<\/p>\n In addition to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill newly designated medical centers are:<\/p>\n<\/a>More than 250,000 Americans are living with pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease. The prevalence of PF and ILD is on the rise with more than 50,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Clinical trials are now underway to treat various forms of the diseases. UNC\u2019s Interstitial Lung Disease Center is one of the few sites in the U.S. that is both a Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Care Center Network program and a LAM Clinic<\/a>. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare and progressive lung disease that primarily affects women and has no known cure. LAM Clinics are strategically located in hospitals or medical centers across the United States where there are clinicians and researchers who have an interest in LAM and who value research in rare diseases.<\/p>\n