"In our studies we overcame the absence of protein by adding the polymer," Taeusch said.

The new research on artificial surfactant is an extension of breakthrough work by UCSF scientist John Clements, MD, who was first to isolate and characterize natural lung surfactant in the 1950s. Twenty years later, he developed the first artificial surfactant. Clements is the Julius H. Comroe, Jr., professor of pulmonary biology at UCSF and served as co-investigator on the current study.

Taeusch said he plans to continue to study the mechanism of polymers in treating a variety of lung diseases. The UCSF team has applied for a patent on the polymer enhancement technique.

In addition to Taeusch and Clements, the research co-investigators are Karen W. Lu, MD, and Jon Goerke, MD, of UCSF; Pankaj Sarin, MD, of the University of Rochester; and Bengt Robertson, MD, of the Karolinksa Institute. The research was supported by grants from the UCSF Department of Pediatrics and the UCSF Committee on Research.

'"/>

Contact: Corinna Kaarlela
ckaarlela@pubaff.ucsf.edu
415-476-3804
University of California - San Francisco
4-May-1999