ON-DEMAND WEBINAR


Mucus Plugs and Functional Imaging: The Newest Biomarker Emerging in Asthma and COPD


EXCITING UPDATE POST-ATS 2025


calendar

Originally aired: June 26, 2025

Duration: ~60 minutes

Mucus Plugs and Functional Imaging: The Newest Biomarker Emerging in Asthma and COPD

calendar

Originally aired: June 26, 2025

Duration: ~60 minutes

Image adapted from: McIntosh MJ et al., Chest. 2022;162(3):520–533.

About the Webinar

Biologic therapy in asthma and COPD is changing the way these diseases are managed. There is a growing appreciation of the importance of the role that mucus plugs and the resulting ventilation defects play in disease progression and disease modification. By combining structural imaging (HRCT) with ventilation imaging (Xenon MRI), the functional consequences of these obstructions can be measured directly, and new insights gained in how to effectively phenotype patients for biologic therapy.

Join three leading pulmonology and imaging experts as they share important new data and case studies on how combining CT (structure) and Xenon MRI (function) offers a powerful biomarker combination to differentiate asthma phenotypes, monitor response to biologics, and even predict exacerbations.

We’ll dive into cutting-edge research and clinical applications, including:

About the Webinar

Explore the Role of Mucus Plug Imaging in Precision Respiratory Medicine
Biologic therapy is redefining care for asthma and COPD, but treatment response still varies dramatically across patients. One critical—and often overlooked—driver? Mucus plugs.

This webinar brings together leading pulmonology and imaging experts to explore how advanced structural (CT) and functional (Xenon MRI) imaging is unlocking new ways to phenotype disease, track response, and guide therapy decisions.

You'll gain exclusive insights and case-based applications from top researchers on how to integrate these tools into clinical and research settings.

What You’ll Learn:

Copyright © 2025 POLAREAN. All rights reserved. 

Dr Nair is the Frederick E. Hargreave Teva Innovation Chair in Airway Diseases & Professor of Medicine in the Division of Respirology at McMaster University, an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at McGill University, and a Staff Respirologist at the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, where he looks after patients with complex obstructive airway diseases, severe asthma and eosinophilic lung disorders. These unique multi-disciplinary clinics with immunologists, hematologists, and vasculitis and imaging specialists provide advanced care, including access to biologics, pulmonary imaging, bronchial thermoplasty, and research opportunities.

Dr. Sarah Svenningsen is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at McMaster University. She is a pulmonary imaging scientist who has made significant contributions to the fields of Xenon MRI and imaging of respiratory diseases. Dr Svenningsen’s research program focuses on three translational themes using an integrated clinical and medical imaging approach: translational imaging to (1) detect and understand the early manifestation of pulmonary diseases, (2) predict and evaluate pulmonary disease outcomes, and (3) improve the selection, delivery and efficacy of therapies targeting pulmonary diseases.

Access the Webinar Replay

Discover the latest insights from our experts—stream the session on‑demand now.

Please fill all the required fields!
Please accept terms and conditions to proceed

Dr. Mario Castro is the Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine; Vice-Chair for Clinical and Translational Research; and Director of Rainbow Clinical and Translational Science Unit, Frontiers at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He leads the Asthma and Airway Translational Research Unit, with a focus on the pathogenesis and treatment of severe asthma. Dr. Castro has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and played a pivotal role in major NIH-funded COVID-19 studies.

Please wait