Brad Chmielewski, MD

Research Project:  Proteomic Analysis of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD)

Education and Training: 

• Bachelors of Science in Biology from the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota
• Doctor of Medicine from the University of Minnesota Medical School
• Internal Medicine Residency at Hennepin County Medical Center
• Currently a Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow on the NIH T32 Training Grant at the University of Minnesota.

Current Research Aims:  COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is projected to be the third leading cause of death for both males and females by the year 2020. The total estimated cost of COPD in 2002 was $32.1 billion. It is felt that COPD remains under-diagnosed; with an estimated 15.3 million people in the US with COPD the costs will continue to rise. Despite the associated risk of smoking, the underlying disease process in COPD is not well understood. With the assistance of the NIH T32 Training Grant, Dr. Chmielewski has continued to pursue a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of COPD and emphysema by using the science of proteomics. Currently he is looking for biomarkers that differentiate phenotypes of COPD by defining the proteomic profile in sputum and serum.

Identifying the proteomic profile in COPD should lead to a better understanding of the molecular biological pathways of COPD. Dr. Chmielewski’s long term goals include testing the pathways for causality of the disease and developing a screening test for COPD. Through these studies he hopes to identify steps amenable to therapeutic interventions.

Publications and Presentations:

Chmielewski B., Nelsestuen G, Haddican M, Cummings C, Lande JH, Wendt CH.  Matrix-assisted desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis of emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.  Brad was selected to orally present his research findings on his featured  at the ATS Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada May 16-21, 2008.

Last updated 5-30-2008