hrough a joint effort with SouthEast Research Associates, founded by Dr. Stuart Simon in 1990, our practice is able to offer our patients the opportunity to participate in a number of cutting-edge clinical pharmaceutical trials. Recent protocols have included novel therapies for a wide variety of common ailments, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and septic shock. We have also developed an in-house clinical research arm, currently investigating the role of lung disease (COPD) in development of osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). We are especially excited by our selection as a testing site for the National Lung Screening Trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.