Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a debilitating lung disease commonly caused by cigarette smoking. It affects 1 in 20 people in Canada and has been predicted to be the third leading cause of death by 2030. People suffering from COPD are presented with symptoms such as breathlessness, cough, and sputum (phlegm) production. COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in North America and costs the Canadian health care system billions of dollars. Current drug treatments have been unsuccessful in slowing the progression of COPD.The objective of this project is to remove FAM13A protein in cells that line the human airpipes to see if it has a role leading to COPD-related biological response. Effective treatment for COPD is currently limited, leading to high rates of hospitalization and mortality for COPD patients. By understanding the relationship between the biology of these gene targets, we may be able to provide valuable information to enhance the drug discovery and delivery process for patients with COPD in Canada and worldwide.