Easter Island drug may halt lung infection-inflammation cycle in people with cystic fibrosis.

A Canadian expedition to Easter Island, 1964, led to the discovery of the antibiotic rapamycin. Capable of suppressing the immune system, the drug is used to prevent organ rejection following transplantation, and has shown potential as an anti-cancer treatment.

Dr. Miguel Valvano’s (University of Western Ontario, London) work together with a team of collaborators at Ohio State University has led to the discovery, that rapamycin improves the clearance of Burkholderia cepacia bacteria in the lungs of CF mice, greatly reducing signs of inflammation and lung tissue damage. Read more …

This research has received over $1,000,000 in funding from Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Reviewed/updated: 2011-08-23