Giovanni Ferrara

Giovanni Ferrara is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Alberta, leading the division since February 2019. He serves as medical lead for the Digital Health Unit, established to advance applied digital health research and clinical trials in respiratory care.

His research focuses on:

• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) pathophysiology
• Tuberculosis healthcare delivery challenges
• Digital health integration via wearables and big data analytics
• Climate change impacts on respiratory health, especially wildfire smoke
• Evidence-based medicine and patient-centered outcomes
• Real-world disease monitoring beyond traditional clinical visits

Recent publications (2024-2025) emphasize IPF/ILD management through antifibrotic treatments, oxygen therapy optimization, and digital endpoints, while addressing tuberculosis disruptions during pandemics and environmental health risks. Key trends include leveraging wearable technology for continuous monitoring and analyzing air pollution as a leading mortality risk factor.

Dr. Ferrara supervises a PhD student at Karolinska Institutet and a post-doctoral researcher in big data analytics at the University of Alberta, focusing on wildfire smoke exposures. His clinical trials on digital monitoring and leadership in scientific study groups demonstrate active grant-driven research.

He founded the University of Alberta's Digital Health Unit, coordinating multidisciplinary teams of computing scientists, data analysts, and physicians to develop adaptive strategies for respiratory disease management amid climate change challenges.