BREATHE Research understanding & treating neuromuscular disorders that compromise respiratory and non-respiratory function
With active members in 17 departments and interests in preclinical, clinical, and translational research, the UF BREATHE Center Research Cores provide a nexus for interdisciplinary collaborations.
Research Cores
Airway Defense Core
Fundamental principles through clinical translation concerning mechanisms of swallowing disorders and cough, and changes in neuromuscular disease or injury.

Basic Breathing Research Core
Fundamental principles in the neural control of breathing and respiratory muscles are explored. Major areas of strength include: respiratory motor plasticity, opioid induced respiratory depression and muscle wasting with neuromuscular injury/disease, aging, heart failure, sepsis and cancer.

Neurological Disorders Core
Major strengths include respiratory function in neuromuscular disorders (Spinal Cord Injury, Pompe Disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and ALS), neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease), and other clinical disorders (cancer cachexia, heart failure, sleep apnea).

Neurotechnology Core
UF is developing strength in medical approaches to treat clinical disorders with electrical stimulation of relevant neural structures.

Neurotherapeutic Oxygen Core
UF is a center of research for this novel approach to therapeutics, including therapeutic intermittent hypoxia and hyperbaric oxygenation.

Spinal Cord Injury Core
The UF BREATHE Center is devoted to developing new therapeutics to restore breathing and airway defense, walking, and health in those living with spinal cord injuries. A particular focus is to harness spinal cord plasticity through intermittent hypoxia or spinal cord electrical stimulation to restore function.

Recruiting Patients
Current Clinical Trials
BREATHE members run a variety of clinical trials focused on respiratory research and rehabilitation.
