Ken Kunisaki

Mentors:  Dennis Niewoehner, MD and John Connett, PhD

Current Position:  Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota

Current Support:  University of  Minnesota K-12 Program and PACCS Division

T32 Support:  2005 - 2007

Education:    1990 – 1994, B.S., University of California,
                         Davis, California
                      1995 – 1999, M.D., The Ohio State University,
                         Ohio
                      1999 – 2003, Residency (Med/Peds),
                         University of Minnesota
                      2003 – 2007, Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellow,
                         University of Minnesota
                      2004-2007.  MSc in Clinical Research,
                         University of Minnesota School of Public
                         Health

Grants:          American Lung Association Research Training
                          Fellowship (national)*
                      American College of Chest Physicians COPD Clinical
                          Research Trainee Award
                      Glaxo Smith Kline Fellow*
                      Dr. Kunisaki successfully competed for ALA, ACCP Glaxo Smith Kline fellowship support, but the ALA was declined and the salary support from other two was turned back since the T32 support included tuition for his MSc degree

Project:         Dr. Kunisaki completed a project on exhaled nitric oxide, serum inflammatory markers, and inhaled corticosteroid responses in COPD.  He successfully recruited 76 subjects for this intervention study on patients with advanced COPD, a remarkable achievement on his part.  He analyzed his data and submitted an abstract to an international meeting. 

Dr. Kunisaki demonstrated outstanding potential to develop into a successful clinical researcher, and a commitment to pursuing an academic career.  Training included mentored clinical research experiences.  He completed coursework towards a M.S. Clinical Research Degree from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.  He is the recipient of NIH K12 award (5 K12 RR023247-02) which started July 1, 2007.  During the T32 award period, Dr. Kunisaki also received funding from the Chest Foundation of the American College of Chest Physicians (COPD Clinical Research Trainee Award), American Lung Association of Minnesota (declined in favor of T32), and GlaxoSmithKline (investigator-initiated research proposal, protocol #104801).

Recent Publications:

Kunisaki KM, Rice KL, Niewoehner DE.  Management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly: an appraisal of published evidence.  Drugs Aging    2007;24(4):303-324

Rice KL, Kunisaki KM, Niewoehner DE.  Role of tiotropium in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2007;2(2):95-105.

Kunisaki KM, Rice KL, Janoff EN, Rector TS, Niewoehner DE.  Exhaled nitric oxide, systemic inflammation, and the response to inhaled fluticasone propionate in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective study. Ther Adv Respir Dis (accepted, in press).

Non-peer reviewed:

Kunisaki K.  Simpson's paradox. [letter] Crit Care Med 2005;33(7):1673-1674.

Kunisaki KM.  Prevention of post-extubation laryngeal oedema.[ letter] Lancet 2007;370(9581):25-26.

Last revised 2-18-2008