Nationwide, 25 million people have asthma (including 5.5 million children), and 9 million more suffer from chronic bronchitis. In parallel, ubiquitous infections such as COVID-19 and RSV can cause severe respiratory disease. Motivated by the high prevalence of respiratory diseases and the urgent need to translate evidence-based preventative care and treatments to our patients, the Center for Respiratory Health (CRH) brings research teams, clinicians, and patients together to address those most pressing issues.

The CRH is a multi-disciplinary, highly collaborative center that focuses on programmatic development for federally-funded respiratory research. The immediate goal of the CRH is to facilitate translational and implementation science research that optimizes respiratory health for UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville’s patients and community. The long-term goal of the CRH is to foster regionally and nationally recognized respiratory research that optimizes health for all members of our community and beyond.

CRH is housed in the Institute for Population Health within the Office of Research Affairs (ORA). The CRH partners with key resource-focused entities in ORA such as the Center for Data Solutions and Clinical Research Office. Currently, the CRH portfolio includes $4.8 million in total NIH funding.

Jennifer Fishe, M.D., Assistant Dean for Research, and NIH-funded pediatric asthma researcher is currently serving as CRH’s interim director while a search for a full-time director is ongoing.

For more information, please email Jennifer.Fishe@jax.ufl.edu.