Digital Imaging Biomarkers In Alpha-1 COPD Clinical Trials

Featuring Igor Barjaktarevic, MD, PhD

 

Description

Approximately 400m people—about 5% of the world population—are living with COPD globally (source). While many of these cases are caused by smoking, a minority of cases are due to a genetic predisposition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (also known as AATD or Alpha-1). In our conversation with COPD/alpha-1 expert Igor Barjaktarevic, we explore the role of imaging biomarkers for these diseases, especially in the context of clinical trials. We also discuss the pursuit of more personalized therapies, efforts for earlier detection, and much more.

Highlights

Dr. Barjaktarevic talks about exciting digital imaging biomarkers beyond PD15 for alpha-1 clinical trials.

“Imaging technologies are moving from anatomy and diving into the physiology and function.“

The power of digital imaging biomarkers to understand COPD:

“Imaging is now enabling us to go a step further, deeper, to get an understanding of the early mechanisms of disease development.“

Watch the Full Webinar

Bonus Clips

Due to time constraints, some content was omitted from the webinar program. If you’d like to hear Dr. Barjaktarevic’s answers to any of the following questions, follow these links:

  • Q: How is alpha-1 currently diagnosed? Answer
  • Q: What are the current therapies for alpha-1, and their limitations? Answer
  • Q: Which patients benefit most from the current alpha-1 therapies? Answer
  • Q: What do we know about the repeatability of imaging biomarkers? Answer

Speaker Bio

Igor Barjaktarevic, MD, PhD

Medical Director, COPD Program, UCLA

As Assistant Professor of Medicine and a Medical Director of COPD Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Barjaktarevic leads the clinical and research projects in COPD and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency syndrome. As a Director of Bedside ultrasound of the Department of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Barjaktarevic leads the research on the use of transthoracic and endobronchial ultrasound in critical care settings. With clinical interest in advanced pulmonary procedures, Dr. Barjaktarevic participates in interventional pulmonology programs at UCLA and has been one of the founders of lung nodule clinic at UCLA.

With extensive background in the field of pulmonary immunology where Dr. Barjaktarevic obtained a PhD in 2016 in collaborative project between University of Belgrade and Weill Cornell in New York, his research experience expands from basic science and experiments on laboratory animals to complete conduction of clinical or translational studies. Dr Barjaktarevic is interested in the role of cellular immunity in the development of COPD and the role of Th-17 immune response in emphysema and role of HIV in early development of emphysema among HIV+ smokers. He is a principal investigator at UCLA for multiple government or industry-sponsored clinical trials focused on COPD, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and hemodynamic monitoring in shock.