ERS Gold Medal in Interstitial Lung Disease 2016

Dr Kaminski is the Boehringer Ingelheim Professor of Internal Medicine, Yale School and Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Yale.

As a physician scientist, Dr Kaminski is known for his significant contributions to ILD research and respiratory medicine. He is considered a pioneer in the application of high throughput methods and systems biology to implement precision medicine approaches to pulmonary fibrosis research.

Among his discoveries are: the role of MMP7 in pulmonary fibrosis; the altered repertoire of microRNAs in IPF lung and their potential as therapeutics; and the discovery of highly reproducible peripheral blood biomarkers in IPF.

Dr Kaminski has authored over 200 primary research manuscripts, editorials, perspectives and book chapters. He has wide collaborations all over the over the world with specific connections with multiple European teams.

He has also been Associate Editor for the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and is currently Deputy Editor for Thorax BMJ. In all of his leadership roles, Dr Kaminski has promoted research, care and awareness for patients with interstitial lung diseases.

During Dr Kaminski's eleven years as the first Director of the Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease at the University of Pittsburgh, the Center became a model for other ILD centers, with a detailed database and biorepository, and an active support group. Physicians at the center cared for more than 3000 patients with ILD, including over 700 with IPF. The Simmons Center received over 20 million dollars in NIH grants and published over 150 publications in those 11 years.

As the Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Yale he led the section through an unprecedented period of growth including increase in faculty, creation of many programs including the Yale Sleep Medicine Centers, the Center for Pulmonary Precision Medicine (P2MED), the Center for Pulmonary Infection Research and Treatment (CPIRT) and the Yale Center of Excellence for Interstitial Lung Disease (Yale-ILD).