The research interests of Jay H. Ryu, M.D., include interstitial lung diseases characterized by progressive scarring of lung tissues affecting the ability to breathe. Dr. Ryu also studies rare and emerging lung disorders, particularly those without effective current approaches for diagnosis and management. These include:
Interstitial pneumonias without a known cause.
Cystic lung diseases.
Interstitial lung diseases related to exposures including smoking, medications and other exogenous agents. These outside agents include hypersensitivity pneumonitis, caused by repeatedly inhaling a particular allergen, often in a workplace setting; aspiration-related lung diseases where a foreign substance is inhaled; and bronchiolar disorders involving injuries to smaller airways.
Heritable lung diseases passed from one generation to the next.
Lung involvement in systemic diseases such as autoimmune or autoinflammatory disorders, histiocytosis, lymphoproliferative diseases and amyloidosis.
The thrust of Dr. Ryu's research efforts is to better define these diseases to help with earlier diagnoses and find better management strategies. To accomplish this, Dr. Ryu and his research team study the natural history and development or pathogenesis of these diseases. They also consider the clinical laboratory and radiological characteristics, referred to as clinicoradiologic features. Dr. Ryu collaborates with Mayo Clinic colleagues in other specialties as well as with researchers in the U.S., Europe and Asia.