Group leader: Prof. Dr. med. Claudia Kuehni
The Paediatric Respiratory Epidemiology Group studies the epidemiology of frequent and rare respiratory disorders during childhood and over the life course. Main areas of interest are asthma and other wheezing disorders, chronic cough, cystic fibrosis, and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).
We conduct population-based and clinical cohort studies (Swiss Paediatric Airway Cohort, Living with PCD, and the ENT Prospective International PCD cohort) and manage national databases and registries, such as the Swiss Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Registry and the Swiss database of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis. We also participate in collaborative national and international studies, such as the Bern Basel Infant Lung Development (BILD) cohort and the BEAT-PCD clinical research collaboration of the European Respiratory Society.
Research topics include the public health impact of respiratory disease, the role of behavioural and environmental influences on the development of respiratory disorders, disease phenotype definition, prediction of clinical course and long-term outcomes, and healthcare research. We also perform national physician surveys to better understand the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases and conduct participating research together with people affected by respiratory diseases.
