Exploring the causes of early COPD
Official title: Understanding the Origins of Early COPD
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11180772 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the early changes in the lungs that can lead to COPD, using advanced imaging to find out who might be at risk for more serious problems, and it’s for anyone who wants to help us understand how to stop COPD from getting worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | August 31, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,168,770 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL144718-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180772 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include younger smokers who may be at risk for developing COPD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced COPD or those who do not smoke may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the early biological processes that lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), focusing on small airway abnormalities that can be detected through advanced imaging techniques. By analyzing immune responses and airway surface liquid, the study aims to identify individuals at risk of developing more severe forms of the disease. Participants will undergo noninvasive assessments to track disease progression and understand the underlying mechanisms that could be targeted for future therapies. The goal is to develop strategies to halt the progression of COPD before it becomes irreversible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that modify the course of COPD, improving outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding early COPD pathology, but this approach is innovative in its focus on noninvasive detection and immune response analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez, Fernando J — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Martinez, Fernando J
Related research
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-
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Next-Generation Wearable AI for Precision COPD Risk and Care
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Ethics-aware Multimodal AI for COPD prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
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-
Easier, local pulmonary rehab and social support for people with COPD in low-resource clinics
This project compares a 10-week community pulmonary rehabilitation program alone, the same program plus help with social needs, and usual care for people with moderate-to-severe COPD to see which helps people stick with rehab and feel better.
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Improving COPD outcomes with real-world data
A doctor-scientist at a major university is using real-world information from COPD patients to understand which treatments work best, how safe they are, and whether people stick to their inhaler plans.
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.