# Defining Pathways in COPD Patient Oriented Research

> **NIH NIH K24** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $119,002

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Dr. Han is a physician scientist with a focus in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient-oriented
research (POR). Her mentoring objectives under this award will be able to take on new mentees and further
develop her own skills as a mentor in COPD POR. Dr. Han proposes to focus in particular on training
individuals from groups who are who are currently underrepresented in COPD POR including women and
racial and ethnic minorities. Protected time from this award would allow her to take coursework to acquire new
analytic and mentoring skills. Additionally, this award would provide her with protected time to expand the
number of mentees she can oversee as well as the resources she can provide for them. As part of her
program, Dr. Han will tailor a mentoring plan to each trainee consisting of one-on-one mentoring sessions,
collaboration with statisticians and formal educational opportunities in analytic methods and the responsible
conduct of research. Each candidate will create a publication, presentation and funding timeline. The
resources available at the University of Michigan (UM) including the UM Pulmonary Division Multidisciplinary
Training Grant (T32 HL07749-24), the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research/Clinical & Translational
Science Award (MICHR/CTSA, UL1TR000433) and close collaboration with the UM School of Public Health
provide an ideal infrastructure for POR training. Dr. Han's scientific aims for this proposal will extend her
existing research into two new areas. The first aim will be to use CT imaging analytic techniques developed at
UM to understand variation in COPD clinical outcomes and disease progression with a particular focus on the
influence of gender. The second research aim will be to (a) understand the long-term clinical significance of
smokers with symptoms but preserved pulmonary function; and (b) determine whether in this same group of
individuals the presence of CT defined small airway abnormality at baseline helps to predict treatment
response to a long-acting bronchodilator. Dr. Han will be able to leverage her broad COPD POR portfolio for
these analyses. This portfolio includes two R01's to investigate imaging biomarkers in the COPDGene and
SPIROMICS cohorts. Dr. Han is also Co-PI of an NHLBI funded therapeutic trial of a bronchodilator in current
and former smokers with respiratory symptoms but preserved pulmonary function (Redefining THerapy IN
COPD, RETHINC). These studies will also provide significant networking opportunities for trainees. Dr. Han is
at an ideal stage of her career to take advantage of a K24 award. She is deeply committed to an investigative
career in COPD POR as well as enriching the diversity of future COPD POR investigators which aligns with
two of the NHLBI's missions: (1) to promote research, training, and education for the prevention and treatment
of lung disease; and (2) increasing the diversity of our national research workforce.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10198016
- **Project number:** 5K24HL138188-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** MeiLan K Han
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $119,002
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10198016

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10198016, Defining Pathways in COPD Patient Oriented Research (5K24HL138188-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10198016. Licensed CC0.

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