FAMRI Bland Lane Center of Excellence on Second Hand Smoke

The national Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI) supports the multi-project FAMRI Bland Lane Center of Excellence on Secondhand Smoke at UCSF.

  

The goals of the FAMRI Bland Lane Center of Excellence on Second Hand Smoke at UCSF are to:

 

          (1) Identify relationships between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and pulmonary disease progression

          (2) Develop methods for early detection of SHS-related cardiovascular disease

          (3) Assess impact of SHS exposure on patients with pulmonary disease

          (4) Develop novel biomarkers of SHS exposure in relation to disease progression

          (5) Identify factors that influence the development and implementation of smoking restriction policies, as well as strategies to overcome barriers

          (6) Estimate the economic impact of SHS on cardiovascular disease in the U.S. 

 

 FAMRI was created through a settlement of a class action lawsuit against tobacco companies on behalf of flight attendants who sustained health problems due to exposure to secondhand smoke in their job.  The center is led by Dr. Rita Redberg and consists of a research clinic and several scientists, all of whom help conduct research in areas of second hand smoke and pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, exposure assessment, health, economics and public policy. Please see our publications below.

 

 Study Participants Needed.  The Center of Excellence on Second Hand Smoke at UCSF is conducting an online secondhand smoke registry for flight attendants. If you are a flight attendant, over the age of 40 with a minimum of 5 years flight experience,  please click here and fill out this questionnaire on your health and (if any) secondhand smoke exposure history, so that we can learn more about the effects of secondhand smoke exposure on your health. 

 

 

Inquiries for the center may be directed to the FAMRI Clinical Staff:

FAMRI@ucsf.edu or (415) 412-0872

 

 


 

Our investigators and the general area of their research are as follows:

  

Cardiovascular Research

Mehrdad Arjomandi, MD

Warren Gold, MD

Rita Redberg, MD

 

 Pulmonary Research

John Balmes, MD


Paul Blanc, MD, MSPH

Suzaynn Schick, PhD                                                                                   

  

Exposure Assessment Research                                                                     

Neal L. Benowitz, MD                                                                                             

S. Katharine Hammond, PhD                                                                              

Peyton Jacob, PhD                                                                                                 

  


Policy Research

Dorie Apollonio, PhD

Lisa Bero, PhD

Wendy Max, PhD

Donna Odierna, PhD

Hai-Yen Sung, PhD

 

Genetic Research                                                    

Esteban Burchard, MD, MPH

 

 

Published Research Articles:

 

Acute Effects of Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract
John Balmes, MD
Prrofessor in Residence

Using a controlled exposure system, we are studying the effects of SHS on the upper and lower airways in healthy subjects and subjects with allergic rhinitis or asthma. We will also be studying the effects of 4 consecutive days of SHS exposure.

Chronic Effects of Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure on Lung Function of Flight Attendants
Mehrdad Arjomandi, MD
Assistant Professor In-Residence of Medicine

This is an observational study to determine the long-term respiratory effects of secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) in pre-smoking ban flight attendants via study of lung function and radiographic evidence of emphysema, and their association with estimates of cabin SHS exposure.

Use of Science in Secondhand Smoke and Other Policymaking
Lisa Bero, PhD
Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Institute for Health Policy, UCSF

This project focuses on the role of evidence in the development of smoking restriction legislation and ergonomic regulations.

FLOW Cohort Study
Paul Blanc, MD MSPH
Professor of Medicine, Endowed Chair Occupational and Environmental Medicine

The major goal of the project in this center award is to assess secondhand smoke exposure effects longitudinally among an older cohort with COPD. In the FLOW cohort study, we aim to elucidate how SHS exposure adversely affects patients with COPD. Specifically, we will delineate the longitudinal impact of SHS exposure on pulmonary function decline among adults with COPD. The project will also evaluate the prospective impact of SHS exposure on the risk of functional limitation and disability in COPD.

Impact of Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Acute Lung Injury
Carolyn Calfee, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine

We are studying the effects of both active smoking and secondhand smoke exposure on susceptibility to acute lung injury, a major cause of respiratory failure among critically ill patients.

Lung Function Effects of SHS in Flight Attendants
Warren Gold, MD
Professor of Medicine

Current research, as a member of the FAMRI (Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute) Center of Excellence, with Principal Investigator Rita Redberg, examines the long-term effects of second hand cigarette smoke on flight attendants. Pilot studies have shown that 40% of nonsmoking flight attendants who worked on commercial airlines prior to the ban on cigarette smoking developed diffusion defects.

Effect of Aged Sidestream Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Humans
Suzaynn Schick, PhD
Assistant Adjunct Professor of Medicine

Professor Suzaynn Schick is recruiting healthy nonsmokers who are not exposed to SHS in daily life to study the effects of acute exposure to SHS on nasal congestion.

Economic Burden of Secondhand Smoke
Hai-Yen Sung, PhD
Adjunct Professor, Institute for Health & Aging

The project examines the exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among U.S. adults and children, and quantifies the economic burden of the SHS exposure in terms of healthcare costs and lost productivity from lost time and premature mortality.  It also assesses the impact of exposure to SHS on two particularly vulnerable populations – African Americans and Hispanics.  

Assessment of Flight Attendants’ Exposure to Second Hand Smoke for Epidemiologic Studies
Katharine Hammond, PhD
Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, UC Berkeley

The goals are to identify relationship between SHS exposure and pulmonary disease progression; develop methods for early detection of SHS-related cardiovascular disease; assess impact of SHS exposure on patients with pulmonary disease develop novel biomarkers of SHS exposure with validation in relation to disease progression; identify factors that influence the development and implementation of smoking restriction policies, and strategies to overcome barriers; and to estimate the economic impact of SHS on cardiovascular disease in the U.S. (UC San Francisco/FAMRI)