Role of viral infections and autoantibodies in COPD progression
Official title: Defining the Role of Viral Infections and Autoantibodies in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Progression
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11330657 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how viral infections and autoimmune antibodies might be linked to faster lung function decline in people with COPD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 16, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $655,963 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL168663-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330657 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with COPD enrolled in the COPDGene study who provided blood samples and have long-term follow-up data.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not meeting COPD criteria or without available longitudinal data may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use blood samples from 3,000 COPD patients in the COPDGene study to examine antibodies against viruses and autoimmune targets. They’ll apply PhIP-Seq technology to map immune responses and see if certain antibodies predict more rapid lung function loss over 5 to 10 years. The study aims to connect prior viral infections and autoantibody presence with COPD progression, potentially guiding future treatments or monitoring. Participation would involve blood analyses and long-term follow-up data from existing cohorts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help identify COPD patients at higher risk for faster decline and inform personalized monitoring or therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked immune responses to COPD progression, but a direct causal link remains to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ruczinski, Ingo — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Ruczinski, Ingo
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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.