Building Career Paths for Ph.D., Basic and Translational Scientists in Clinical Departments in the United States: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

To identify barriers and opportunities for Ph.D., basic and translational scientists to be fully integrated into clinical units.

Airway smooth muscle pathophysiology in asthma.

The airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell plays a central role in the pathogenesis of asthma and constitutes an important target for treatment. These cells control muscle tone and thus regulate the opening of the airway lumen and air passage. Evidence indicates that ASM cells participate in the airway hyperresponsiveness as well as the inflammatory and remodeling processes observed in asthmatic subjects.