# Biomarker of Lung Disease in African Americans

> **NIH NIH R01** · NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH · 2020 · $793,111

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US1,2. Although
COPD occurs predominantly in smokers, it is unknown why only a minority of smokers (~20-40%) develops
chronic airflow limitation or destruction of distal airspaces (emphysema). Identification molecular profiles from
current or former smokers who are likely to progress is a crucial step in understanding the pathogenesis of
COPD and emphysema. There are very few publications that describe COPD biomarkers in large, well
phenotyped cohorts that include a significant number of African Americans. This study will leverage large NIH-
supported cohorts (COPDGene, SPIROMICS, and MESA-Lung) that have large number of well-characterized
African Americans subjects with or at risk for COPD. Since the subjects have stored plasma and have been
followed for 7-10 years with extensive clinical, physiologic, and imaging, we can very cost-effectively apply a
proteomic approach. Furthermore, because the cohorts have other valuable Omics data, we can integrate the
proteomic findings with whole genome sequencing and other advanced molecular studies such as genomics.
This knowledge may help develop novel diagnostic tests and therapies for early prevention and treatment of
COPD and will identify any markers that are specific to smoking-related lung disease in African Americans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980976
- **Project number:** 5R01HL137995-03
- **Recipient organization:** NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** RUSSELL Paul BOWLER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $793,111
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-15 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980976

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980976, Biomarker of Lung Disease in African Americans (5R01HL137995-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980976. Licensed CC0.

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