First-Ever Millennial Lung Health Study Begins Recruiting in Jacksonville

At a time when lung health is more important than ever, today, the American Lung Association in Florida, Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville and University of Florida announced they are now accepting participants for a first-of-its-kind large-scale study of millennial lung health. Nemours Children’s and University of Florida are two of 35 sites across the country conducting this study. 

The American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort Research Study will track 4,000 young adults (aged 25-35) at the age of peak lung health. Scientists across the country will follow these millennials for five years after their initial interviews to evaluate how their environment, lifestyle and physical activity habits affect respiratory health. Millennials interested in participating can locate a site near them at Lung.org/Lung-Study.

“Historically, lung health has been studied only after the appearance of chronic lung disease. There is a critical need to better understand how a young adult’s lung function declines over time,” said Kathryn Blake, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, CIP, Principal Investigator for the Lung Health Cohort and Director, Center for Pharmacogenomics and Translational Research at Nemours Children’s Health. “In addition, here in Florida, our residents face lung health threats like air quality impacts from climate change, teen vaping and a higher-than-average rate of new lung cancer cases. By studying the lung health of millennials in Florida, we can determine how these factors impact respiratory function and develop ways to prevent lung disease or catch it earlier.”

Here are some details about the American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort study:

• It will follow 4,000 young adults at the age of peak lung health, from 25 to 35 years old, in Jacksonville, as well as 35 other sites across the US, painting a clear picture of lung health across geography and demography.
• Each participant will be tracked for five years on measures of lung function, respiratory symptoms, and information including where they live, where and what they do for work, as well as health behaviors, fitness, biomarkers and chest imaging.
• This study will use low-dose CT scans, which will show any signs of early or intermediate lung injury or abnormalities. Clinicians can use these to build a library of lung images in various stages of health and disease.
• The Lung Association's Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) Network will conduct the research working closely with researchers at Nemours Children’s Health and University of Florida. ACRC is the largest national non-profit clinical network dedicated to asthma and COPD research.

The longitudinal study is made possible through a $24.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. As the study continues, the goal is to renew the grant so scientists can continue to follow study participants for the rest of their lives.

Those interested in participating in the study can locate a site near them at Lung.org/Lung-Study.