Charles G. Irvin
Professor, Pulmonary Medicine
PRONOUNS he/him
- Ph.D., University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin
- B.S., Carroll College Waukesha, Wisconsin
Department of Medicine
Areas of expertise
asthma, lung physiology, airway biology and clinical trials of asthma/COPD treatments.
BIO
Charles (Charlie) Irvin, PhD is an internationally renowned applied physiologist with research interests that focus on lung mechanics, airway biology and clinical trials of asthma/COPD treatments. His research program has sought to better understand the mechanisms that cause airway/lung dysfunction in common, devastating lung diseases such as asthma. He was awarded a PhD from the University Wisconsin–Madison (1978). Following his NIH-funded postdoctoral training at McGill University, he was recruited to the National Jewish and University of Colorado School of Medicine, raising through the academic ranks to full professor and PFT laboratory medical director. Since 1998 at the University of Vermont, Dr. Irvin guided the rise of the NIH/IDeA-funded Vermont Lung Center to national and international prominence in pulmonary medicine and research. Charlie’s name is synonymous with lung physiology. His lifelong research has focused on the mechanical and cellular dysfunction underlying common airway diseases determining how inflammation and smooth-muscle control drive airway hyperreactivity. Seminal contributions include: identifying the non-adrenergic inhibitory system in the lung, defining the role of neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation in airways dysfunction forming the basis for anti-inflammatory therapy in asthma, and defining the mechanistic link between sinus/nasal inflammation and lower airway hyperreactivity supporting the one-airway concept. His translational insights brought him into clinical research as a site PI of the ALA-ACRC program where he led and participated in numerous trials, including studies on asthma medication responses that revealed an idiosyncratic reaction to theophylline in obese asthmatics. This observation led to the first clinical intervention trial of bariatric surgery in asthma, paving the way for current investigations into obesity-related lung disease. Charlie’s innovations in methodology have transformed pulmonary research. His development of novel animal models such as pioneering the use of precision lung function assessments in the laboratory mouse and antigen sensitization system that is widely used today. Lastly, his research has shown that airway closure not airway narrowing is the major mechanism by which lung function is impaired in asthma. Dr. Irvin's career demonstrates a lifelong commitment to pulmonary research, mentorship, and service as recognized by the 2026 ATS Trudeau Medal.
Publications
Awards and Achievements
- 2026 ATS Trudeau Medal
Bio
Charles (Charlie) Irvin, PhD is an internationally renowned applied physiologist with research interests that focus on lung mechanics, airway biology and clinical trials of asthma/COPD treatments. His research program has sought to better understand the mechanisms that cause airway/lung dysfunction in common, devastating lung diseases such as asthma. He was awarded a PhD from the University Wisconsin–Madison (1978). Following his NIH-funded postdoctoral training at McGill University, he was recruited to the National Jewish and University of Colorado School of Medicine, raising through the academic ranks to full professor and PFT laboratory medical director. Since 1998 at the University of Vermont, Dr. Irvin guided the rise of the NIH/IDeA-funded Vermont Lung Center to national and international prominence in pulmonary medicine and research. Charlie’s name is synonymous with lung physiology. His lifelong research has focused on the mechanical and cellular dysfunction underlying common airway diseases determining how inflammation and smooth-muscle control drive airway hyperreactivity. Seminal contributions include: identifying the non-adrenergic inhibitory system in the lung, defining the role of neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation in airways dysfunction forming the basis for anti-inflammatory therapy in asthma, and defining the mechanistic link between sinus/nasal inflammation and lower airway hyperreactivity supporting the one-airway concept. His translational insights brought him into clinical research as a site PI of the ALA-ACRC program where he led and participated in numerous trials, including studies on asthma medication responses that revealed an idiosyncratic reaction to theophylline in obese asthmatics. This observation led to the first clinical intervention trial of bariatric surgery in asthma, paving the way for current investigations into obesity-related lung disease. Charlie’s innovations in methodology have transformed pulmonary research. His development of novel animal models such as pioneering the use of precision lung function assessments in the laboratory mouse and antigen sensitization system that is widely used today. Lastly, his research has shown that airway closure not airway narrowing is the major mechanism by which lung function is impaired in asthma. Dr. Irvin's career demonstrates a lifelong commitment to pulmonary research, mentorship, and service as recognized by the 2026 ATS Trudeau Medal.
Publications
Awards and Achievements
- 2026 ATS Trudeau Medal