COPD in rural areas: how air and home exposures affect health
Official title: COPD and Rural Health: Identifying Environmental Exposures Associated with Adverse Outcomes
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11290764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how outdoor and indoor air pollution, including solid fuel use for heating, influence COPD outcomes among people living in rural US communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $222,259 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM148278-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with COPD living in rural areas of the United States.
✕Less likely to help
If you do not have COPD or live outside rural areas, this study is unlikely to benefit you.
What this research studies
If you have COPD and live in a rural area, this project aims to understand how environmental exposures in your environment relate to your breathing problems and overall health. Researchers will look at air pollution levels both outside and inside homes, and how smoking and non-tobacco pollutants contribute to symptoms and hospital visits. The study plans to identify who is most affected and what people believe about pollution in their communities, so that tailored, rural-relevant ways to reduce risk can be developed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of rural COPD risks could lead to practical steps to reduce exposure and improve quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows environmental exposures impact COPD, but rural-specific data and perceptions are limited, making this approach potentially novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paulin, Laura Marie — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Paulin, Laura Marie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.