Dr Richard Nellis Van Zyl-Smit shares his insights on COPD treatment and tiotropium. This webinar was sponsored by Glenmark.
Medical Chronicle and Dr Richard Nellis Van Zyl-Smit hosted a one-hour, CPD-accredited webinar on the role of Tiotropium in COPD treatment as per the newly released GOLD 2023 Guidelines. Gain valuable insights from an expert in the field on how the latest guidelines impact patient outcomes and treatment decisions and learn about the significance of tiotropium in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in light of the latest GOLD 2023 Guidelines, directly from Dr Van Zyl-Smit.
Watch a replay of this webinar and still earn a CPD point: https://event.webinarjam.com/go/replay/662/lp6vpby60azmgcgxpfk
Bio
The overarching theme of my research strategy is poverty related lung disease. Where poverty has its major influence on respiratory disease is the intersection between risk factors such as smoking, air pollution, HIV and respiratory disease such a TB, pneumonia and airways disease.
The areas of interest thus include smoking related lung disease, non-tobacco related airways disease (HIV, post-TB) and adolescent HIV associated respiratory diseases. The strategy to tackle these interwoven area is to be collaborative and translational from epidemiology evaluation/ bedside clinical issues to the basic science research bench and back:
Epidemiology- Understanding the prevalence and significance of non- tobacco related COPD with particular interest in post-TB lung disease associated COPD.
Structure and function. To correlate the abnormal lung function findings and radiology in patients with post tuberculous/biomass induced COPD to better define and inform treatment decisions.
Immunology. To explore the mechanistic interactions of tobacco/biomass/e-cigarette exposure on host immunity and inflammation in relation to pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Clinical/Policy. To develop appropriate smoking cessation strategies and treatment services within the African / low income context and to evaluate treatment options for non-tobacco related COPD.
Active laboratory research. I have extended my PhD research into the effects of tobacco smoke and electronic cigarettes on human responses to Mycobacterium. Projects have looked at the effect of mycobacterial strain immunogenicity on immune responses, nicotine receptor agonists (used in tobacco cessation) and receptor blockers. I am co- currently supervision a PHD project on pleural fluid diagnostics.
In collaboration with Professor Johnathan Grigg (Queen Mary’s London) we are investigating the effects of tobacco smoke, wood smoke and nicotine on tuberculous and pneumococcal infection.
Pharma-sponsored research studies. I have participated in over 100 research studies as either sub-investigator or principal investigator over the past 10 years. I am currently the principal investigator (and national Principal investigator) on 16 clinical studies. These research studies have all been conducted at the UCT Lung Institute. The majority of the studies have been on asthma or COPD but have also included, TB vaccine, TB drug development, smoking cessation, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis.
