Contributions of Mexican scientists are recognized

MEXICO CITY: Mexican scientists of the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases “Ismael Cos o Villegas” (INER) received an award from the American Thoracic Society (ATS), in recognition of the contributions made by their research on the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, the most lethal and aggressive illness affecting lungs. Specialists led by Dr Moises Selman Lama became the first non American scientists to receive this award, positioning themselves among the most outstanding groups in the world to study this medical condition.

Among their most important contributions is a study developed in association with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) on idiopathic cystic fibrosis. The findings allowed to conclude that it is not a chronic inflammatory illness, as it had been assured half a century ago.

The research paper published under the title “Idiopa thic Lung Fibrosis: Prevailing and in Evolution. Hypothesis in Pathogenesis and Therapy Implications” made possible to know some mechanisms that led to a better understanding of the disease. As a result, the treatment was modified. It used to be based on strong anti- inflammatories and immunosuppressant medication that did not prove to be efficient in stopping the disease and provoked severe secondary effects on patients.

Dr Selman Lama said that these studies led to treatment modifications as well as to the allocation of resources from Health Institutes of the United States, given that they did not finance research projects that considered the disease an inflammatory process. Based on this work, clinical tests were made with other types of substances to treat this disease, which yield the authorization of the Food and Drug Administration of the United States.