Frank Sciurba

Dr. Sciurba is the director of the Emphysema COPD research center, and director of the clinical pulmonary physiology laboratories and pulmonary rehabilitation program. He earned his B.S. degree in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois and attended medical school at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Sciurba completed his internship and residence at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Sciurba's long term research interest includes volume reduction strategies in patients with advanced emphysema and the use of exercise testing as a diagnostic and outcome tool in lung disease.

Among his research interests and published work includes assessment of new concepts related to patterns of pulmonary and systemic inflammation associated with COPD, the impact of therapy on dynamic hyperinflation, the role of quantitative imaging in the assessment and reclassification of COPD, the design of the VENT endobronchial valve trial and role of valves in relieving native lung hyperinflation following lung transplantation, the retinoic acid FORTE trial, gender differences in COPD, assessment of methodology of pulmonary exercise testing and activity monitoring in COPD, and the important role of autoimmunity in the progression of COPD.

Dr. Sciurba’s research has been inspired by real clinical problems facing his patients. He has authored over 200 peer reviewed publications with a particular emphasis on lung physiology and COPD. His publications cover: physiologic mechanisms of lung volume reduction surgery and bronchoscopic techniques; quantitative lung imaging and phenotyping; the role and limitations of exercise and 6-minute walk outcome assessment; biomarkers for phenotypic stratification and disease progression; and IL-5 modulation in COPD. Dr. Sciurba's current leadership positions include: His role as a Principle Investigator of the Network Management Core of the new NHLBI sponsored Pulmonary Trials Consortium (PTC) which manages the execution of pragmatic, “real world” studies in a variety of chronic pulmonary conditions;  and his role as academic chair of the COPD Biomarker Qualification Committee (CBQC), a group that works with the FDA to address the need for new biomarkers to facilitate development of drugs and devices for chronic pulmonary conditions. He is also currently the chair of the American Thoracic Society Clinical Problems Program Committee.