Division of Lung Diseases | NHLBI

The Division of Lung Diseases (DLD) supports research on the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of lung diseases and sleep disorders. The Division is responsible for monitoring the latest research developments in the extramural scientific community, as well as identifying research gaps and needs, obtaining advice from experts in the field, and implementing programs to address new opportunities.

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Research is funded through investigator-initiated and Institute-initiated grant programs and through contract programs in areas including asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, respiratory neurobiology, sleep-disordered breathing, critical care and acute lung injury, developmental biology, pediatric pulmonary diseases, immunologic and fibrotic pulmonary disease, rare lung disorders, pulmonary vascular disease, pulmonary manifestations of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other respiratory pathogens. The DLD houses four branches -the Acute and Infectious Lung Diseases Branch, the Lung Development and Pediatric Diseases Branch, the Obstructive Lung Diseases Branch, and the Restrictive and Vascular Lung Diseases Branch – as well as the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research.

What We Do

Acute and Infectious Lung Diseases Branch

The Acute and Infectious Lung Diseases Branch supports research and research training in acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, critical care, pneumonia, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, lung transplantation, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, as well as digital health.

Contact: 

Guofei Zhou Ph.D. 
Branch Chief 
guofei.zhou@nih.gov

Lung Development and Pediatric Diseases Branch

The Lung Development and Pediatric Diseases Branch supports research and research training in lung development, stem cells and other lung cell lineages, surfactant, host responses to early-life infections, neonatal and pediatric conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, and primary ciliary dyskinesia, and related gene editing strategies.

Contact: 

Marrah Lachowicz-Scroggins MFS, GCCP, Ph.D. 
Branch Chief 
marrah.lachowicz-scroggins@nih.gov

Obstructive Lung Diseases Branch

The Obstructive Lung Diseases Branch supports research and research training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchiolitis, TH1/2 immunity, e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury, lung imaging, and related population studies.

Contact: 

Lisa Postow Ph.D. 
Branch Chief 
lisa.postow@nih.gov

Restrictive and Vascular Lung Diseases Branch

The Restrictive and Vascular Lung Diseases Branch supports research and research training in pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial or rare lung diseases in adults, sarcoidosis, pulmonary vascular disease including pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure, pulmonary embolism, lung aging, data science, and genomics.

Contact: 

John T. Sheridan Ph.D. 
Branch Chief 
john.sheridan@nih.gov

National Center on Sleep Disorders Research

The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research supports research and research training related to sleep disordered breathing, and the fundamental functions of sleep and circadian rhythms. The Center also stewards several forums that facilitate the coordination of sleep research across NIH, other federal agencies and outside organizations, including the Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board and a Trans-NIH Sleep Research Coordinating Committee. The Center also participates in the translation of new sleep research findings for dissemination to health care professionals and the public.

Contact: 

Marishka K. Brown Ph.D. 
Director 
marishka.brown@nih.gov

Office of the Director

The Office of the Director oversees scientific, budgetary and administrative efforts across the Division’s branches.  Strategic leadership and coordination is provided for the development and implementation of lung and sleep research funding mechanisms and initiatives; direction and management of translational, clinical and implementation research programs; grant and contract administration; scientific workforce development; and intra- and inter-agency collaborations.