Abstract Lung function peaks in young adulthood and declines with age. Studies suggest that this trajectory may be modifiable, potentially enhancing lung health and resilience to prevent or delay the onset of chronic lung disease. Although significant progress has been made in identifying the lung stem/progenitor cell populations involved in lung repair and homeostasis, their regulation and potential for manipulation to promote respiratory health and resilience remain elusive. To explore these issues, the NHLBI organized a virtual workshop on November 7-8, 2024 that aimed to cover the current scientific landscape, address critical research gaps, and identify challenges, opportunities, and key research questions related to chronic lung disease, with a focus on lung stem/progenitor resilience and its applications in the early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of chronic lung diseases. This report summarizes the scientific presentations, discussions, and recommendations from the workshop.
Han et al. (Wed,) studied this question.