Helping Children Breathe

Orlando, Florida
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 @ 03:12 PM EDT

Children with lung diseases face many challenges, including spending hours a day just to get the proper dosage of medication. Unfortunately, nebulizers and inhalers were not designed with children in mind and medication has not been formulated for them. The nebulizers and inhalers currently available emit medication particles that are too large to efficiently pass through the lungs of a child.

In Orlando, Florida, the work of David E. Geller, MD and the Nemours Aerosol Research Laboratory aims to enhance the overall quality of life for children with lung diseases. The lab’s research has focused on determining the appropriate amount and size of the particles for use by children.

The lab is one of the less than half dozen independently operated pharmaceutical aerosol laboratories in the United States, and one of the few that is pediatric-friendly. Fully research funded, the laboratory has operated since 1999. Under the direction of Dr. Geller and managed by lab coordinator Bert Kesser, the lab began examining the delivery efficiencies of asthma medications with different devices and quickly expanded to include drugs and devices, and cystic fibrosis and other pulmonary disorders.

Since the opening of the lab, the aerosol and biotech/pharmaceutical companies have become aware of the Nemours name and often use the lab as a matchmaker to find the perfect union of medication and aerosol delivery system. “In the lab we can help a company with a new drug find the optimal aerosol medication delivery system,” states Dr. Geller. “Once we have done that, we have the patient population and nurse study coordinators to do the clinical research on the new treatment, a very unique and exciting combination.”

modified: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 @ 12:05 PM EDT
created: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 @ 03:17 PM EDT