The Dorothy P. and Richard P.

Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease

Program Overview

Established in 2001 through the generous support of the Simmons family, the Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease was designed as a unique environment where patient care, education, and advanced research are fully integrated. Physicians, nurses, scientists, and quality-of-life specialists work side by side to provide state-of-the-art diagnosis and management of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), to support patients and their families through education and counseling, and to advance research that seeks new treatments and more precise diagnostic tools.

The Simmons Center maintains a deeply collaborative culture, with investigators funded by NIH and industry grants and partnerships that extend across the globe. The research team is composed of geneticists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, thoracic surgeons, pathologists, basic scientists, and bioinformaticians, reflecting the breadth of expertise needed to address the complexity of ILD. Patients themselves are essential contributors, providing biological samples, participating in clinical studies, and, in doing so, advancing both the understanding and treatment of interstitial lung diseases.

Patient Care and Multidisciplinary Focus

Interstitial lung diseases are highly complex and often require the expertise of multiple medical specialties. At the Simmons Center, evaluation and treatment by a multidisciplinary team is the standard approach rather than the exception. Care involves collaboration among pulmonologists and lung-transplant specialists, rheumatologists, cardiologists, dermatologists, thoracic surgeons, pathologists, occupational medicine physicians, radiologists, and sleep medicine experts. Clinical nurse specialists and quality-of-life professionals provide additional expertise, ensuring that the needs of patients and families are addressed comprehensively.

This integrated model allows patients to benefit from the full clinical and research resources of UPMC’s academic health system. For those with advanced disease, referral to UPMC’s internationally recognized Lung Transplant Program offers access to one of the most experienced transplant centers in the world. Alongside medical care, patients and families engage in education programs, support groups, and regional outreach events that promote coping strategies and improve overall quality of life.

Diseases Treated

The Simmons Center provides care for patients across the full spectrum of ILDs, though most are diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), sarcoidosis, autoimmune disease–associated ILD, or occupational lung disease.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the most common form of ILD, is characterized by progressive scarring of the lungs that gradually limits breathing capacity. The disease is difficult to diagnose and, aside from lung transplantation, no curative therapies currently exist. However, numerous experimental treatments are being investigated at the Center. Sarcoidosis, by contrast, is an inflammatory disease of unknown cause that not only affects the lungs but also involves other organs. Its clinical presentation and outcomes are highly variable, making management particularly challenging.

Patients with autoimmune or rheumatologic diseases such as scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis are also frequently seen. In many of these cases, the severity of lung involvement determines prognosis. Close collaboration between Simmons Center physicians and rheumatologists ensures that lung disease is identified and managed as aggressively as the systemic manifestations of these conditions. Occupational lung diseases represent another important focus. Fibrosis due to exposures such as asbestos, coal dust, beryllium, and hard metals is approached through coordinated assessment by clinicians, radiologists, pathologists, and occupational hygienists.

Research Program

Basic Research
Basic investigations at the Simmons Center focus on the mechanisms of lung fibrosis, injury, and repair, as well as the genomic and proteomic underpinnings of ILD. These studies employ cell and animal models, including rodent and non-human primate systems, and are supported by a large biorepository of well-characterized patient samples. Molecular, immunologic, physiologic, radiologic, and genetic approaches are used to uncover the pathways driving fibrotic disease.

Translational Research
A central mission of the Center is the rapid translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical applications. Research in this domain emphasizes the identification of biomarkers of disease progression, the development of novel therapeutic targets, and the refinement of diagnostic strategies that can personalize patient management. Investigators benefit from robust infrastructure, including experienced research coordinators, comprehensive patient databases, and extensive sample repositories.

Clinical Research
Clinical research at the Simmons Center encompasses both NIH- and industry-sponsored studies. Patients are offered opportunities to participate in trials of investigational medications and longitudinal studies examining the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical outcomes of ILDs. These efforts also include research on quality of life, symptom burden, and the psychosocial dimensions of disease.

Active projects at the Center include the identification of gene expression patterns that predict disease trajectory and treatment response, particularly in IPF. Investigators are applying genomics and proteomics to characterize molecular drivers of fibrosis and to identify potential therapeutic targets. Parallel studies are exploring the genetic basis of adult pulmonary fibrosis and the cellular pathways that promote fibrotic remodeling. Other ongoing work examines the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances in patients with IPF, investigating how these conditions relate to disease severity, quality of life, and social support.