Genetics and patterns of chronic lung disease in U.S. Veterans

Chronic lung disease phenotyping and genomics in the Veterans Health Administration

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · MINNEAPOLIS VA MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11264860

This project will combine VA health records, lung imaging, and genetic data to find genetic patterns linked to asthma, COPD, and interstitial lung disease in U.S. Veterans.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorMINNEAPOLIS VA MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded)
Locations1 site (MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11264860 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would be contributing to work that links VA electronic health records, CT imaging, spirometry results, and other clinical data to create more accurate definitions of chronic lung diseases. Those definitions will be validated so researchers can reliably identify who has asthma, COPD, or ILD and who does not. The team will then use genetic data from the Million Veteran Program to search for DNA variants, build polygenic risk scores, and study how genes interact with smoking and other exposures. The project is led from the Minneapolis VA but uses data from across the VA system to capture many Veterans' experiences.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are U.S. Veterans enrolled in the VA health system, age 21 or older, particularly those with a history of asthma, COPD, or interstitial lung disease and available VA health records or genetic data.

Not a fit: People who are not Veterans, under 21, or who do not have VA health records or linked genetic data are unlikely to be included or see direct benefit from this grant.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help predict which Veterans are at higher risk for chronic lung disease and point to more personalized prevention or treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Prior genetic studies have found risk genes for COPD and asthma, but applying rigorously validated VA-based clinical definitions and imaging-linked data across the Million Veteran Program is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.