In this episode, we are thrilled to have Dr. Morrisey join us as he sheds light on his groundbreaking research into the human lung's unique structure and its implications on diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The human lung's architecture is markedly different from that of mice, particularly in its distal airway configuration and its interplay with the alveolar gas-exchange niche, resulting in a unique anatomical structure known as the respiratory bronchioles. This uniqueness has largely left the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing respiratory bronchioles unexplored, owing to the lack of a counterpart in mice.

Dr. Morrisey and his team discovered a unique secretory cell population within the human respiratory bronchioles, distinct from those found in larger proximal airways. Through organoid modeling, ...