Celebrating Kevin Winthrop as OHSU Showcases Lung Infection Research

The OHSU-PSU School of Public Health is proud to congratulate Kevin Winthrop, M.D., professor of infectious diseases and public health, on a major milestone in his research on chronic lung infections. In November, Dr. Winthrop and his research team shared findings from a $5 million, multi-year study at the 12th annual Nontuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Disease Research Consortium conference, a national convening of experts, patient advocates, regulators, and industry leaders focused on advancing care and research for NTM and bronchiectasis.

Advancing Evidence in NTM Treatment

In 2018, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute awarded Dr. Winthrop and his team $5 million to lead a large, multi-site research study examining treatment strategies for pulmonary NTM infections. Working with 29 research sites across North America, OHSU played a central role in enrolling 474 participants and managing the study design, research activities, and data analysis. The scale and collaborative nature of this effort reflect a significant commitment to improving evidence-based care for patients affected by these complex and often under-studied lung diseases.

Addressing a Longstanding Clinical Question

The study, known as the MAC2v3 trial, focuses on a critical and longstanding controversy in the treatment of pulmonary infections caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Specifically, the research compares the effectiveness and tolerability of a two-drug regimen (azithromycin and ethambutol) versus a three-drug regimen that includes rifampin. Because there is currently no established standard-of-care therapy for pulmonary MAC infections, and existing treatments were adapted from tuberculosis regimens, this research addresses an urgent need to understand whether the benefits of adding a third antibiotic outweigh potential side effects.

Impact for Public Health and Future Leaders

Dr. Winthrop’s work exemplifies the School of Public Health’s commitment to rigorous, patient-centered research that informs clinical practice and improves population health. We celebrate this achievement and its importance for patients, clinicians, and researchers alike. We are proud to highlight this work for our students, faculty, and alumni, and to recognize the leadership and collaboration that make advances like this possible.