En Bloc Society:

Korean Academy of Tuberculosis & Respiratory Diseases (KATRD)

Team members:

Principal Investigator:

Dr Hee-Young Yoon (Republic of Korea)

Co-Investigators:

Dr Ju Hyun Oh (Republic of Korea)
Dr Jin Woo Song (Republic of Korea)

Project term:

1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026

Project summary:

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal interstitial lung disease with highly variable clinical course. Environmental exposures, especially indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are increasingly recognized as potential modifiers of disease progression through epigenetic mechanisms, yet evidence in the Asia-Pacific region remains scarce.

This project will evaluate the impact of indoor PM2.5 exposure on epigenetic and molecular biomarkers and their association with disease progression in a large, prospective multicenter IPF cohort. We will integrate individualized exposure measurements with longitudinal lung function and biospecimen data to identify biomarkers that reflect environmental risk and predict clinical outcomes.

Led by a young investigator specializing in interstitial lung disease and environmental epidemiology, this project aims to address an urgent research gap through a multidisciplinary, translational approach. The findings are expected to advance personalized risk assessment and inform environmental health strategies for IPF across the Asia-Pacific region.