Who we are :

The Experimental Pulmonology and Inflammation Research (EXPIRE) group is a scientific research group housed in the Medical Biology and Pathology department in the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). The main research focus of the group are lung diseases: Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Diseased and healthy lungs are studied in our laboratory at genetic, cellular, immunological, and 3D structural levels, from childhood to old age.


Our Research ->

Latest News:

Groeifonds grant of €4.4 million for research on personalized treatment of asthma & COPD


Our Latest Publications:

  • Tasena, H, Rae, B, van den Berge, M, Faiz, A, Reinders-Luinge, M, Hylkema, MN et al.. Fibroblast crosstalk promotes mucin synthesis by COPD-derived airway epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2026; :. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00315.2025. PubMed PMID:41955101 .
  • Rae, B, Ramirez, JA, Heijink, IH, Pouwels, SD. Accessible Silicone Chip-to-Membrane Sealing Procedure for Flexible, Reliable Bonding. J Vis Exp. 2026; (229):. doi: 10.3791/69980. PubMed PMID:41941398 .

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