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Neil Ross MacIntyre Jr.

Professor Emeritus of Medicine
Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
Duke Box 3911, Durham, NC 27710
1120 Hosp North, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


1) Mechanical Ventilation and respiratory failure. Current projects involve studying patient-ventilator interactions during modes of support that require patient activity. The focus is on ventilatory muscle function during these assisted modes. Other projects include evaluating respiratory system mechanics in acute respiratory failure and the role of ECMO in the adult. Duke is also one of several institutions in the NIH ARDS Network, a consortium designed to perform multi-center trials.

2) Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. Current projects involve using a rapidly responding gas analyzer to measure lung diffusing capacity in discrete regions of the lung. These analyses are being extended into mechanically ventilated patients.

3) COPD. Current projects involve studying the physiology of cardio-respiratory conditioning in patients with obstructive lung disease and the role of pulmonary rehabilitation in improving COPD outcomes. Duke is also a member of two NIH sponsored multicenter programs: the COPDgene project correlating genetic profiles with physiologic/clinical phenotypes; and the NIH LOTT project evaluating the role of oxygen therapy in exercise and sleep hypoxemia.

4) Aerosol delivery systems. The current project is the development of a prototype aerosol generating catheter that can be directly inserted into the airways. Studies are being conducted in both ex vivo animal lungs and in mechanically ventilated patients.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor Emeritus of Medicine · 2025 - Present Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine

Recent Publications


A Multidimensional Diagnostic Approach for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Journal Article JAMA · June 24, 2025 IMPORTANCE: Individuals at risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but without spirometric airflow obstruction can have respiratory symptoms and structural lung disease on chest computed tomography. Current guidelines recommend COPD diagnosti ... Full text Link to item Cite

Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease After Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Hospitalization among Primary and Secondary Prevention Older Adults.

Journal Article J Am Heart Assoc · January 21, 2025 BACKGROUND: Meta-analyses have suggested that the risk of cardiovascular disease events is significantly higher after a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, but the populations at highest risk have not been well characterized to date. ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


The impact of the oral microbiome on pulmonary function among people with HIV in Botswana

ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2024 - 2029

Accuracy and Precision in CT Quantification of COPD Through Virtual Imaging Trials

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2021 - 2026

Genetic Epidemiology of COPD (COPDGene) - Fixed Price

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Jewish Health · 2023 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


Cornell University · 1972 M.D.