Understanding Lung and Chest Changes in COPD with CT Scans

CT-based Characterization of Lung Volume-determined Airway and Chest Wall Deformation Interdependences in COPD

NIH-funded research University of Iowa · NIH-11161615

This research looks at existing CT scans to understand how the lungs and chest wall change shape in people with COPD, especially when other conditions are present.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Iowa NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Iowa City, United States)
Project IDNIH-11161615 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This study uses existing CT scans from large lung studies to learn more about how the airways and chest wall move and change in people with COPD. Researchers want to identify different patterns of these changes and see how they relate to other health issues like emphysema or low bone density. By understanding these interactions, we hope to learn more about how COPD progresses and affects patients' health over time. This information could help us better understand the disease and potentially lead to more personalized care in the future.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This study uses existing data from past nationwide lung studies, so direct patient participation is not required for this specific grant.

Not a fit: Patients not interested in contributing their past medical imaging data to large research databases would not directly benefit from this specific data analysis project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help identify different types of COPD and predict how the disease might progress, potentially leading to more personalized treatment approaches.

How similar studies have performed: While individual aspects of COPD have been studied, the specific interactions of airway and chest wall deformation between different lung volumes in COPD with comorbidities are a novel area of exploration.

Where this research is happening

Iowa City, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.