Bringing translational research in acute lung injury closer

The prevalence of acute lung injury (ALI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is high, represents a high morbidity and mortality in mechanically ventilated patients, and current treatment is only supportive. Therefore, clinicians and scientists hoped that new pharmacologic, biologic, and genetic approaches for a better understanding of pathogenesis, pathophysiology and treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) would improve clinical outcomes in the near future.