Blood Collection From Individuals With Lung Disease for Genetic Studies

Collection of Blood for Gene Expression/Genomic Studies in Individuals With Chronic Lung Disease

This is a research study where researchers are collecting blood to evaluate the genetic characteristics of individuals with chronic lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer.

The investigators hope to be able to identify an association between a genetic make-up in the blood samples and the risks of developing a particular lung disease, or severity of a lung disease. The findings of this study might be important to develop future preventative methods and potential treatments for the management of lung disease. The investigators aim to collect blood samples from 300 people with lung disease and 300 controls over 5 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must provide informed consent

• Males and females, age 18 years and older

• Lung disease proven by at least one of the following:

  • symptoms consistent with pulmonary disease
  • chest X-rays consistent with lung disease
  • pulmonary function tests consistent with lung disease
  • lung biopsy consistent with lung disease
  • family history of lung disease
  • disease of organs with know associated with lung disease
  • individuals suspected of history of lung disease based on history and/or physical examination
  • normal controls (individuals without history of lung disease) to be sampled to provide a comparison to the lung disease cohort.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Drug and/or alcohol abuse within the past six months
• Females who are pregnant or nursing