Markers of lung damage in tuberculosis-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The project aims to investigate lung damage resulting from tuberculosis (TB) associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We plan to analyze the patient population with TB associated COPD in Latvia, comparing changes in endobronchial biopsies between patients with TB associated COPD, smoking associated COPD, and combination of both conditions. By combining scientific TB expertise at Riga Stradins University (RSU) and patient population at Riga East University hospital, Latvia, with excellence of COPD research from the Clinic of Pneumology at the University Hospital Freiburg (UoF), Germany, the project will contribute to the global understanding of the TB associated COPD pathogenesis. The project will support students from our team and foster Riga – Freiburg research collaboration, technologies used in project will be transferred from the UoF to RSU providing support to students and ensuring scientific sustainability in the future. We plan to use the data from this research to assess the feasibility of histologically characterizing TB associated COPD. Based on our findings, we aim to develop further research on potential treatment strategies and apply for funding through Horizon Europe. The findings will be published in Open Access journals and presented at the ERS Congress. Our team members lead the WHO Collaborating Centre for TB research; therefore, the research data will be shared internationally with specialists of the field, scientists, and policymakers.