COPD And Inflammation Team (CAIT)

In BC, more than 74,000 adults have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 10,000 patients require hospitalization each year for related illnesses, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Lung inflammation is the defining symptom of COPD, and may also be responsible for its progression and complications, including lung cancer and vascular disease. Currently, there are few effective therapies available to treat COPD. This unit’s research will bring together basic scientists, clinicians and epidemiologists to focus on identifying and understanding the complex inflammatory cascades of COPD. The team’s ultimate goal is to find new strategies and therapies to improve health outcomes of patients with COPD.