{"id":40206,"date":"2012-04-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-04-10T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2012\/04\/10\/unmc-helps-with-cystic-fibrosis-advance\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T20:11:46","modified_gmt":"2022-09-03T01:11:46","slug":"unmc-helps-with-cystic-fibrosis-advance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2012\/04\/10\/unmc-helps-with-cystic-fibrosis-advance\/","title":{"rendered":"UNMC helps with cystic fibrosis advance"},"content":{"rendered":"

UNMC participated in research that led to the development of a new cystic fibrosis drug that will dramatically improve the lives of some with the condition and could lead to improved therapies for many others with CF. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nJohn Colombo, M.D.<\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The drug — Kalydeco — was approved recently by the Food and Drug Administration. <\/p>\n

“Kalydeco addresses the underlying cause of CF,” said Robert Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, will address the new drug and other developments involving the disease at CF conference at UNMC this weekend. “The science behind the drug has opened exciting new doors to research and development.” <\/p>\n

A strong leader<\/B><\/p>\n

Dr. Beall has been a driving force in the progress being made in CF treatments, said John Colombo, M.D., professor of pediatrics pulmonology and director of the cystic fibrosis program at UNMC and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. <\/p>\n

“Dr. Beall pulls the strings for everything in CF,” Dr. Colombo said. “He has an amazing mind. He’s the guy behind the basic science who has been able to get the scientists together.” <\/p>\n

About the disease<\/B><\/p>\n

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 people in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:
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