Division of Lung Diseases

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. Take a look back at our Division of Lung Disease 50th Anniversary highlights.