Recruiting

Understanding early lung disease in younger smokers

Plain-English translation of NCT05033990 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated May 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

This is a research study trying to understand why some smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and others don't. Researchers will use CT scans, breathing tests, and samples from your blood, phlegm, nasal passages, stool, and urine to look for early warning signs—called biomarkers—that could predict who is most at risk.

Right now, doctors don't have a reliable way to tell which smokers will get COPD before major lung damage happens. This study aims to find early warning signs so people can get help sooner, before they become seriously ill.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 30 and 55 years old
you have a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years (for example, smoking one pack a day for 10 years), or you have never smoked significantly
you are willing to visit a research center multiple times for breathing tests, CT scans, and sample collection
you are willing to have your medical history, smoking habits, medications, and lifestyle recorded

You likely don't qualify if…

you have severe asthma requiring high-dose medications or frequent emergency visits
you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study
you have other serious lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial lung disease
you have metallic implants or devices above the waist that would interfere with CT imaging
you have a condition expected to cause death within the next three years

What participation looks like

You will visit the research center for appointments where you'll complete questionnaires about your health and smoking history, undergo breathing tests to measure how well your lungs work, have a CT scan of your chest, and provide samples including blood, saliva, nasal swabs, sputum (phlegm), stool, and urine. Some participants may also be invited to take part in an optional bronchoscopy sub-study where a thin camera is used to look inside the airways. The study is observational, meaning researchers are watching and collecting information to identify patterns—not testing a new medication.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 2, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(14 sites)

United States

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona

University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California

National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado