The COPDGene® Study is one of the largest studies ever funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The goal of the COPDGene® Study is to understand the genetic epidemiology or underlying genetic factors behind the presence and development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, also known as COPD. Currently, COPD is the third leading cause of death and affects the lives of over 12 million people in the United States.
The COPDGene® Study is looking for heritable or genetic factors that may be responsible for why some people develop COPD with minimal smoking exposure and others who have high smoking exposure never develop COPD. By better understanding the genetic factors surrounding COPD, we hope to improve the quality of life for COPD patients through the development of new drugs, therapies, and possibly one day a cure.
The COPDGene® Study recruited 10,371 subjects in Phase 1. Five-year follow-up was done on 6,153 subjects in Phase 2. Ten-year follow-up was done on 4,763 subjects in Phase 3. COPDGene is currently in Phase 4 and plans to return a total of 3,500 subjects for 15-year follow-up. Since COPDGene® is in its follow-up phase, no new participants are being recruited.