Advances in Pulmonary Fibrosis

Dear Colleagues,

It has been nearly 10 years since the approval of the first and only antifibrotic medications for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. The field has been active in investigating the clinical manifestations, imaging and pathological findings of interstitial lung diseases, particularly pulmonary fibrosis. Overall, novel molecular, genetic, genomic and proteomics advances have enhanced our understanding of the pathogenesis of disease and have provided biomarkers that make precision medicine a possibility for the management of interstitial lung diseases and therapeutic interventions. Diagnostic, prognostic and theragnostic biomarkers facilitate earlier and targeted diagnoses, predict the course of illness and allow therapy selection that specifically addresses the biology of the disease. This approach has made a significant difference in the oncology and asthma areas. We are excited to bring together cutting-edge clinicians and scientists to build upon the strides of the last decade. We are seeking manuscripts that aim to propel the field forward. We are looking for clinically applicable articles that address the screening of high-risk populations, establish diagnoses, stratify the risk of disease progression, guide therapeutic selection and management, and assess co-morbidities. These can include radiology tools that not only identify early disease but also the likelihood of progression. Novel AI algorithms hold promise in this regard and thus need to be validated. Screening techniques that will address the early detection of co-morbidities such as lung cancer are imperative. Clinical and serologic biomarkers that predict disease development and course of illness will be important contributions. Ultimately, we hope that this collection will address the current challenges and provide a road map for the next ten years that will lead to better outcomes for our patients.

Dr. Mary M. Salvatore
Dr. Maria Padilla
Guest Editors

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• lung fibrosis
• biomarkers
• artificial intelligence
• lung cancer in pulmonary fibrosis