Jordan Dunitz, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program

Clinical Activity
My main clinical interests are cystic fibrosis (CF) and lung transplantation.  I developed and direct the University of Minnesota Adult CF Program and am co-director of our CF Center.  In addition to CF, I am interested in the management of other bronchiectatic lung disease including Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.  I am involved in the pre-transplant evaluation and post-transplant management of patients referred for lung transplantation for both CF and other end-stage lung disease.  My involvement in lung transplantation has led me to develop expertise in interventional bronchoscopy for both transplant-related and non-transplant airway disease.  I am experienced in balloon dilation, stent placement and airway laser treatment.  I also perform whole lung lavage for alveolar proteinosis.  In the in-patient arena I mainly focus on CF and lung transplantation, but also participate in general pulmonary consultation and all aspects of intensive care management.

In addition to my direct patient care responsibilities, I participate actively in continuous quality improvement activities in the Adult CF Program.  Projects have included: 

1. Accelerating initiation of care for CF patients admitted to the hospital.
2. Optimizing nutrition for adult CF patients.
3. Optimizing adherence via annual studies.

Research Activities 
I have served as site Primary Investigator for a number of phase II and III trials for new medications for CF patients, including VX-770 and Denfosol.  I have participated as a co-investigator for numerous other phase I-III trials for new CF and transplant medications as well.

I have also participated as a primary or co-investigator for a number of investigator-initiated clinical studies.  I am an active participant in a number of collaborative studies at the University of MN CF Center, including optimization of airway clearance therapy and an evaluation of the efficacy of g-tubes for CF patients.

Selected Recent Publications
For a comprehensive listing of Dr. Dunitz' recent publications refer to PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

• Perdue DG, Cass OW, Milla C, Dunitz J,  Jessarun J, Sharp HL, Schwarzenberg SJ.  Hepatolithiasis and cholangiocarcinoma in cystic fibrosis: a case series and review of the literature.  Dig Dis Sci  2007; 52(10):2638-42. 
• Uhlmann E, Dunitz J, Fiol M.  Pulmonary vein thrombosis presenting after lung transplantation as stroke. J Heart Lung Transplant, 2009; 28(2):209-10.
• Blaes AH, CiocAM, Froelich JW, Peterson BA, Dunitz JM. Positron emission tomography scanning in the setting of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. Clinical Transplantation,Published online 23 Dec 2008 Clin Transplant,23(6): 794-9, 2009. Article.
• Moran A, Dunitz J, Nathan B, Saeed A, Holme B, Thomas W. Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes: current trends in prevalence, incidence, and mortality.  Diabetes Care. 2009;32(9):1626-31.
• Kempainen RR, Milla C, Dunitz J, Savik K, Hazelwood A, Williams C, Rubin BK, Billings JL. Comparison of settings used for high-frequency chest-wall compression in cystic fibrosis. Respir Care. 2010 Jun;55(6):695-701
• Sabati AA, Kempainen RR, Milla CE, Ireland M, Schwarzenberg SJ, Dunitz JM, Khan KM. Characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux in adults with cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 2010 Sep;9(5):365-70. Epub 2010 Jul 31. PMID: 20674518
• Accurso FJ, Rowe SM, Clancy JP, Boyle MP, Dunitz JM, Durie PR, Sagel SD, Hornick DB, Konstan MW, Donaldson SH, Moss RB, Pilewski JM, Rubenstein RC, Uluer AZ, Aitken ML, Freedman SD, Rose LM, Mayer-Hamblett N, Dong Q, Zha J, Stone AJ, Olson ER, Ordoñez CL, Campbell PW, Ashlock MA, Ramsey BW. Effect of VX-770 in persons with cystic fibrosis and the G551D-CFTR mutation. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(21):1991-2003.PMID:
• Wudhikarn K, Holman CJ, Linan M, Blaes AH, Dunitz JM, Hertz ME, Peterson BA. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders in lung transplant recipients: 20-yr experience at the University of Minnesota. Clin Transplant. 2010 Nov 16. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 21077949
   

Grant Support

• 2007-2010  Cystic Fibrosis Center Grant. 
   

Current Research Support

• Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2010-2012
  A Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multiple-Dose Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of VX 809 Alone and In Combination With VX770 in Cystic Fibrosis Subjects Homozygous For the F508del CFTR Gene Mutation.
• Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2006-2011
  A Phase 3 International Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Efficacy and Safety Study of Denufosol Tetrasodium Inhalation Solution in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease and FEV1 Greater Than or Equal To 75% but Less Than or Equal To 110% Predicted = Tiger 2.
• Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2009-2011
  Study 08-114: Open-Label extension of Study 078-110 Open-Label Extension of Study 08-110—A Multi-Center Study of Denufosol Tetrasodium Inhalation Solution in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease.
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• Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2009-2011
  A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multiple-Dose Study of VX-809 to Evaluate Safety, Pharmacokintetics, and Pharmacodynamics in Cystic Fibrosis Subjects Homozygous For the AF-508 CFTR Gene Mutation.

Recent Research Support

• Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  A Phase 2 Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Vx-770 to Evaluate Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Biomarkers of DVTR Activity in CF.
• Altus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  2007-2008
  Altu-135 in CV Pancreatic Patients
• Duke University Medical Center (subcontract with): Sponsor=Roche Labs Inc. 2003-2008
  A Phase III Randomized Double-Blind Comparison of Oral Valganciclovir and Placebo for Prevention of CMV Infection After Lung Transplantation.