COPD is a significant health problem in West Virginia. West Virginia is among the top 7 states for the highest rate of COPD per capita in the US. COPD is almost exclusively caused by cigarette smoking. West Virginia ranks 7th in the US in adult smokers per capita and 1st in high school age students. COPD is the 3rd most common cause of death in West Virginia and West Virginia ranks 1st in the nation for rates of death due to COPD.

Opportunities for research funding in COPD appear to provide enormous opportunities. Future national funding trends are likely to emphasize interdisciplinary, translational approaches. Recent presentations by National leaders at the American Thoracic Society meeting and recent RFAs from NIH to study COPD exacerbations point to the need for better understanding of basic mechanisms and the development of rationale for improved treatment. The website for the Division of Lung Disease at NHLBI proposes funding initiatives in FY2007 for SCCOR applications to address COPD.

Pathophysiological hallmarks of COPD that should be addressed involve studying the effects of cigarette smoke on possible genetic susceptibility, cellular signaling, and immunological alterations. The release and production of mediators such as cytokines, growth factors, eicosinoids, and free radicals that contribute to pulmonary injury, inflammation, mucous secretion, fibrosis, and remodeling could also be studied. The basic science research base for COPD at WVU is not well developed. However, expertise in the clinical arena is excellent. Thus, if basic and clinical science could be strengthened, a strong program in COPD could rapidly emerge. Given the importance of COPD in West Virginia and the US, it is critically important that the Center invest initially in the recruitment of senior investigators in the field of COPD.

Click on Presentation Slide to see Dr. Harakh V. Dedhia's Presentation on COPD Update.		Click on Presentation Slide to see Dr. Carol Montjoy's Presentation on COPD Research.

The above image shows Sensory Neurons in the Nodose Ganglion, taken at 40x on a Zeiss Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope.The reddish images are rhodamine labeled microspheres. The precense of the microspheres indicate that the neuron has axons present in the tracheal epithelium. The blue is a nuclear counterstain DAPI, used to help visualize the cells.

Nerve cell bodies and fibers in normal airway.		Changes in nerve cell bodies and fibers in airway after IL-1 treatment.