Government Sponsored Studies

We have one on-going government sponsored study:

The Genetics of Nicotine Addiction

Principal Investigator: John Hoidal, M.D. and Mark Leppert, Ph.D.

Sponsor: National Institute of Drug Addiction

We are studying genetic and non-genetic factors that may increase or decrease risk for nicotine addiction. Nicotine addiction may have many causes, but genetics appears to be important in at least some families. We aim to discover which genes increase risk, as well as those that protect against nicotine addiction. Our ultimate goal is better treatment and prevention of nicotine addiction.

Objectives:

1.  We will test specific candidate genes for their roles in COPD in a large-scale association study of 800 heavy smokers and 800 controls who have never smoked.

2.  Genes to be tested will be identified from both human and mouse studies and prioritized according to the strength of their supporting evidence. The association studies will utilize genotypes from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found within each candidate gene.

3.  We will search for susceptibility loci for COPD in a large sib-pair study containing 800 Caucasian sibling pairs.

4.  We will ascertain large to moderate-sized pedigrees from Utah population in which a substantial number of individuals with COPD are found. We will genotype these approximately 20 families (average size = 10 individuals) with polymorphic microsatellite markers over the entire genome and then carry out genetic linkage analysis in several ways to determine susceptibility loci.

Protocol Entry Criteria: Men and women, ages 25 to 79. Smoked at least 3 cigarettes in lifetime.

Procedures (two hours):

1.  Spirometory: Pulmonary Function Test and Diffusion Test

2.  Questionnaires: Smoking History, tobacco measures, pulmonary measures, health issues, and personality questionnaire

3.  Blood draw

4.  CT Scan (for COPD subjects)

5.  Pedigrees

Status: Now enrolling. For further details call 581-LUNG

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