Investigating B cells in patients with emphysema-predominant COPD
Official title: B cell-adaptive Immune Profile in Emphysema-predominant COPD
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10906676 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a type of immune cell called B cells acts in people with emphysema, a form of chronic lung disease, to see how these changes might be linked to lung damage, and it involves analyzing samples from patients to better understand what's happening in their lungs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $626,411 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL149744-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906676 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with emphysema-predominant COPD, regardless of the severity of their airflow limitation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with COPD who do not have emphysema may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how B cells, a type of immune cell, behave in patients with emphysema-predominant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study aims to identify specific changes in the B cell profile and their relationship to lung damage. Researchers will analyze lung tissue and blood samples from COPD patients to assess B cell activity and characteristics, using advanced techniques like immunostaining and next-generation sequencing. By comparing patients with varying degrees of emphysema, the research seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms that contribute to lung destruction in these individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies targeting B cells to improve outcomes for patients with emphysema-predominant COPD.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses in COPD, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Polverino, Francesca — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Polverino, Francesca
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Precision phenotyping of emphysema in the elderly: a study in diverse adults
Researchers will look at CT scans and lung tests in older adults to understand different forms of emphysema and how they relate to health outcomes.
-
Omalizumab for COPD patients with allergen sensitization and exposure
A multicenter trial will test whether adding omalizumab helps people with COPD who are allergic to common indoor allergens and are exposed to them.
-
Clinical CT Imaging to identify and subtype pulmonary hypertension in COPD
A new CT imaging approach aims to help doctors detect and classify pulmonary hypertension in people with COPD.
-
Next-Generation Wearable AI for Precision COPD Risk and Care
A patient-centered project uses a smart wearable and AI to predict COPD flare-ups and support doctors in making better care decisions.
-
Ethics-aware Multimodal AI for COPD prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
A broad AI model uses diverse health data to help predict and manage COPD in people, with an emphasis on ethics and fairness.
-
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.
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.