Sex differences in how emphysema develops in smokers
Official title: Sexual dimorphism in susceptibility to emphysematous tissue injury
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11557290 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study looks at whether men and women differ in how their lungs get damaged by smoking, focusing on a specific COPD form called emphysema, to understand why some people are more affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 5, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $739,981 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL167202-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11557290 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with COPD, especially those with emphysema, or smokers at risk for emphysema.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without COPD or current smoking history may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you smoke and have or are at risk for COPD, this project explores why emphysema may progress differently in men versus women. Researchers will examine gene networks and immune cells in lung tissue to see how sex influences tissue injury, using data from lung samples and existing studies. The work combines analysis of single-cell RNA data and chest CT scans to link biology with visible lung damage. Findings could help tailor prevention and treatment strategies based on sex.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding sex-specific mechanisms could lead to personalized approaches for preventing and managing emphysema in smokers.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data and previous studies have shown sex-related differences in emphysema severity, suggesting this approach could yield actionable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shim, Yun Michael — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Shim, Yun Michael
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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.