Genes that push lungs toward COPD or pulmonary fibrosis
Official title: Uncovering the genetically-driven differential susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11238928 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how specific gene changes in lung cells might push people toward COPD or pulmonary fibrosis, especially among older adults and people who smoke or used to smoke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $786,047 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL162813-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238928 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with COPD or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis—especially older adults and current or former smokers—who are willing to provide health information or biological samples are the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without lung disease, those not willing to share samples or genetic data, or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you have COPD or pulmonary fibrosis, researchers will use large genetic datasets and laboratory experiments to find the exact DNA changes that drive one disease versus the other. They will apply methods like ATAC-seq to see how those variants affect gene regulation in specific lung cell types and study microRNAs that alter gene activity. The team will connect variants to the genes they influence and test how those changes change cell behavior in the lab. The goal is to reveal biological "switches" that steer lung health toward COPD or fibrosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new tests or drug targets to better prevent or treat COPD and pulmonary fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large genetic studies have found risk regions and investigators commonly use ATAC-seq to map regulatory DNA, but applying these approaches to explain opposite risk between COPD and IPF is a newer, less-tested direction.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cho, Michael H. — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Cho, Michael H.
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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.