Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease that affects only a fraction of those who smoke tobacco. The origin of this variability in susceptibility to develop COPD is unclear, but understanding its underlying biology has important implications for our ability to design suitable preventative and therapeutic strategies for its management. This Department of Defense (DOD) discovery research proposes to develop methodologies and generate preliminary data needed to lay the foundation for a large study that would investigate the underlying biological susceptibility of those who smoke tobacco to develop COPD.
Ages between 40 to 75 years old.
History of at least 20 pack-years of smoking.
No diagnosis of COPD or asthma.
No spirometric evidence of airflow obstruction as determined by FEV1/FVC ratio ≥0.7.
Any history of IV drug use or inhalation of recreational drugs other than marijuana: A- within the past 20 years. B- more than 100 times IV drug usage. C- longer than 1 year usage.
Marijuana use >400 joints in lifetime or any within past 6 months.
Inability to walk briskly, run on treadmill, or pedal on ergometer to perform the study-required exercise level.
Pregnant/breast feeding.
University of California, San Francisco
Lead sponsor
United States Department of Defense
Collaborator