The lung diseases are disorders associated with functional and/or structural derangements to the alveolar structures, airways, pulmonary blood vessels, pleura and/or mediastinum. The purpose of this protocol is to obtain biologic materials from the blood and lungs from these patients in order to: (1) develop an understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of these disorders; and (2) identify individuals who will be suitable candidates for other protocols such as those involving investigational new drugs. As such, this protocol is part of the "infrastructure" for all of our human lung-related studies such as genomic/gene expression studies of airway epithelium and alveolar macrophages in all individuals with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), asthma, bronchogenic carcinoma, and pulmonary fibrosis compared to normal non-smokers and smokers, and studies of mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
This protocol, to be carried out at Weill Cornell Medical College - Qatar and Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar, parallels a similar approved protocol IRB #0005004440, entitled, "Evaluation of the Lungs of Individuals with Lung Disease with Segmental Bronchopulmonary Lung Lavage, Bronchial Brushing, and Bronchial Wall Biopsy", ongoing at Weill Cornell Medical College - New York.
