Jacksonville University Launches MSRC Program
Citing workforce demands created by the pandemic, Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL, is launching a new Master’s of Science in Respiratory Care program. The program, which was developed in conjunction with Rush University in Chicago, IL, and supported by a $100,000 gift from Baptist Health, will be the only MSRC program in the state of Florida. The two year program will offer leadership and advanced practice preparation in multiple areas, including critical care, neonatal care, and cardiopulmonary diagnostics. Eligible students must have a bachelor’s degree, but no previous health care experience is required. Applications are now being accepted for the first class, which is scheduled to begin in 2022. Read More
NIH Grant to Fund In-School Asthma Program
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York have received a $4.2 million grant from the NIH to conduct a five year study called Evaluation of the Asthma Management Program to Promote Activity for Students in Schools (Asthma-PASS). The program will launch in up to 40 public, charter, and parochial schools across the Bronx and will consist of several initiatives aimed at improving the lives of children age 4-12 with asthma. “We developed Asthma-PASS in collaboration with Bronx elementary schools, parents of children with asthma, and community members, and then conducted a pilot study in four schools, which showed an increase in symptom-free days and children’s physical activity — an important component of asthma management,” said study lead Marina Reznik, MD, MS. “Our goal with the expanded study is to see if we can reduce asthma symptoms among high-risk urban school children.” Read More
Janssen Announces Positive Results for Adult RSV Vaccine Candidate
According to the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, its investigational respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine candidate was highly effective in protecting against lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV in a Phase 2b trial, with a vaccine efficacy of 80% in adults aged 65 and older. An efficacy of 70% was seen against any symptomatic RSV-associated acute respiratory infection. Based on these findings, the company has now embarked on a larger Phase 3 study that will enroll approximately 23,000 adults age 60 and older in North America and selected other countries. The Phase 2B study results were presented at the virtual IDWeek 2021 conference on October 2. Read More
AASM, Partners, Launch OSA Awareness Campaign
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has received a grant from the CDC to improve the recognition of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the community. The AASM will work with partner organizations, including the patient-focused Alliance of Sleep Apnea Partners and the National Sleep Foundation, to increase awareness of the condition among public health professionals, health care providers, and the public. The group will also develop specific strategies to improve awareness in Black, Native American, and Hispanic communities, where prevalence of OSA is high. First year funding for the three year program is approximately $327,000. Read More
ALA Embarks on a Range of COVID-19 Studies
The American Lung Association (ALA) is supporting 24 COVID-19 research studies as a part of its ongoing three-year, $25 million COVID-19 Action Initiative. The studies will cover a range of topics, with a focus on long-COVID, and will also include the Losartan Effects on Emphysema Progression COVID-19 ancillary study, which will determine the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 in the study population as well as examine whether losartan (versus placebo) is beneficial to the COPD patients in the ongoing clinical trial. “Thanks to our extensive network of supporters, including our longstanding partnership with NHLBI, we continue to make strides in stopping the spread and devastating effects of COVID,” said American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer. “Our COVID-19 Action Initiative has been a way to mobilize our research efforts on a large scale at an accelerated pace,” Read More
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Debbie Bunch is an AARC contributor who writes feature articles, news stories, and other content for Newsroom, the AARC website, and associated emailed newsletters. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, photography, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Connect with Debbie by email or on AARConnect or LinkedIn.
