The physiologic mechanisms underlying the ventilatory response to exercise in healthy humans remain a mystery despite more than a century of investigation. Studies employing sinusoidal forcings of work rate have defined the dynamics of pulmonary ventilatory response and demonstrated close coupling of ventilation to carbon dioxide output. These studies were made possible by development of computerized breath-by-breath analysis. Sinusoidal response studies employing arterial blood sampling have yielded further insights. A novel forcing function promises to yield dynamic information more efficiently. Finally, understanding the dynamics of respiratory response to work rate variation may yield more effective strategies for rehabilitative exercise training in patients with lung disease.
Dr. Casaburi completed his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, and then a master’s degree and (in 1971) a doctorate in biomedical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He traveled to Los Angeles for post-doctoral bioengineering studies at the University of Southern California. Five years after joining the Department of Medicine faculty at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Dr. Casaburi pursued his medical degree at the University of Miami. Returning to Harbor-UCLA, he completed clinical training and rejoined the Division of Respiratory Medicine faculty. He served as Division Chief for six years and holds the rank of Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Casaburi established the Rehabilitation Clinical Trials Center in 1999, a clinical research facility dedicated to improving COPD patient’s lives. He and co-workers have completed more than 80 clinical research studies, including three major NIH multicenter projects. He has presented over 800 invited lectures on respiratory physiology, exercise science, pulmonary rehabilitation, and COPD management. He has published more than 440 papers and 360 abstracts. His papers have received 110,000 citations; his h-index is 109. Dr. Casaburi is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society (ATS), European Respiratory Society and American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. He received the 2020 European Respiratory Society Presidential Award for his contributions to respiratory medicine, the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assembly of the ATS and a 2025 Presidential Commendation from the ATS. He is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the COPD Foundation.
