Niewoehner, Dennis, M.D.

PULMONARY

The focus of my research is clinical trials that evaluate preventive and treatment measures for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an increasingly important public health problem. I have served as the principal investigator of a recently completed randomized clinical trial that was performed by contract with a pharmaceutical company through the Minnesota Veterans Research Institute. This was performed at 26 VA medical centers and it exceeded its targeted goal of 1,800 randomized patients. The hypothesis of this trial was that the addition of a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator to otherwise standard therapy would over a six-month period significantly reduce the rate of exacerbation and respiratory hospitalization among veteran patients with severe COPD. Secondary outcomes include all associated aspects of health care utilization. I was also named as a Principal Investigator for the COPD Clinical Research Network. This group will be supported for five years with funding from the NHLBI. The principal charge is to design and execute clinical studies that will improve the management of COPD. Planning for the first trials is currently in progress.