Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung condition characterized by persistent airflow limitation, cough, and shortness of breath. COPD affects 384 million people globally, accounting for 4-7% of all deaths. It is also the first leading cause of hospitalization in Canada. There are 2.6 million Canadians living with COPD, resulting in ~11,000 deaths and ~90,000 hospital admissions per year. Over the next 15 years, it is estimated that the number of COPD patients will double, and the hospital beds required to manage these COPD patients will triple. This increase is driven by factors such as the aging population and the fact that COPD is a complex disease with many different types. Right now, the treatment for COPD is the same for all patients, but the effectiveness of the treatment is not the same. Understanding the gene behavior of specific cell types could better highlight genes that contribute to disease initiation and progression, and help doctors tailor treatment for individual patients. In this study, we aim to identify cell-by-cell changes in gene activity in the airways of patients with COPD across the full spectrum of disease severity while collecting the location information of where such changes occur in the tissue and how they change the cell type organization. These changes in gene activity, cell type organization, and tissue structures may help doctors find new treatments and ways to monitor disease progression. We will also improve the current data analysis tools with cutting-edge computational models to better integrate the cell-by-cell gene activity changes with their location information. Ultimately, this study may help health professionals better understand the pathobiology of COPD, identify novel therapeutic targets, and potentially lead to better disease treatment that is personalized for each patient.