Markers of lung damage in tuberculosis-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (TRACE COPD)

The project plans to analyze the population of patients with TB-induced COPD in Latvia, comparing changes in endobronchial biopsies among patients with TB-induced COPD, smoking-associated COPD, and COPD patients with a combination of both factors. The project will combine the scientific expertise of Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) in the field of TB and the specific patient population at Riga East Clinical University Hospital in Latvia with the excellence in COPD research at the University of Freiburg's Pulmonology Clinic (UoF) in Germany. The implementation of the project will support the team’s students and promote Riga-Freiburg collaboration in research. The technologies used will be transferred from UoF to RSU, supporting students and fostering scientific sustainability in the future. 

The study data will be used to evaluate the possibility of histologically characterizing TB-induced COPD. Based on the results obtained, further research on the treatment strategy for TB-induced COPD is planned. The results will be published in open-access journals and presented at the ERS Congress. Project team members lead the WHO Collaborating Centre for TB Research, creating an opportunity to disseminate the study results internationally to industry specialists, scientists, and policymakers. 

The results obtained in the project will make a significant contribution to understanding the pathogenesis of TB-induced COPD worldwide.

Outcomes

• Original scientific articles published, submitted or accepted for publication in the Q1 or Q2 quartile publications included in Web of Science Core Collection or SCOPUS databases- 1;
• Other peer-reviewed original research articles in other scientific journals and collections of articles (including conference article collections), with an international editorial board - 1;
• Scientific databases and datasets developed within the project and prepared according to FAIR principles - 1;
• Doctoral thesis defended within the thematic focus of the project - 1;
• Other project results according to the specific nature of the project complementary to those listed above (including pre-prints) - 1.

Project Team

• Iveta Ozere, Project Manager
• Daiana Stolz, Lead Researcher

Project-related activities

• Participation in the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2026, Barcelona, Spain. The presentation, “Prevalence of infection-related COPD and airway microbial detection in patients with post-tuberculosis lung disease: a prospective cohort study”, reported the first results of the TRACE COPD project on the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and airway microbial detection among 52 patients with post-tuberculosis lung disease (5-9 September 2026)
• TRACE COPD study abstract accepted for presentation at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2026. The abstract, “Prevalence of infection-related COPD and airway microbial detection in patients with post-tuberculosis lung disease: a prospective cohort study”, was accepted for presentation at the ERS International Congress 2026 (Q2 2026)
• “Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease: How to Identify Patients and Refer Them for Further Evaluation”. Educational seminar for physicians and nurses focusing on the long-term impact of tuberculosis on lung health, assessment of patients according to the study inclusion criteria, and referral logistics for further investigations (31 March 2026)
• TRACE COPD participant recruitment campaign in national media and professional communication channels. A press release inviting people who had previously experienced tuberculosis to participate in the TRACE COPD study was distributed through national news portals and professional communication channels. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the long-term impact of tuberculosis on lung health and support participant recruitment. Information about the study was published by Medicine.lv, Apollo.lv, ResearchLatvia, BB.lv, Ziemeļlatvija, ReKurZeme, and other information channels (26 March 2026)
• Educational activities for general practice nurses on World Tuberculosis Day. The project team provided information on tuberculosis and its long-term impact on lung health and explained how to ensure appropriate care for patients with post-tuberculosis lung disease after successful tuberculosis treatment. Participants also tested their knowledge through an interactive quiz (24 March 2026)
  About the event (in Latvian language)
• Expanded TRACE COPD participant recruitment campaign in collaboration with the Latvian Tuberculosis Society. An invitation was published encouraging people who had previously experienced tuberculosis to participate in the TRACE COPD study. The study aims to document the long-term impact of tuberculosis on lung health, identify health problems among affected patients, and, where necessary, recommend or adjust treatment. Potential participants were offered a free comprehensive lung examination and health assessment at the Centre of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Riga East University Hospital (30 October 2025)
• Patient recruitment for the TRACE COPD study was launched. The research team began inviting individuals who had previously experienced tuberculosis to participate in the study in order to document the long-term impact of tuberculosis on lung health. Clinical examinations and data entry procedures were initiated, contributing to the development of the largest dataset on patients with post-tuberculosis lung disease in Latvia to date (Q4 2025)
• Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Central Medical Ethics Committee (Q3 2025)
• Presentation of the TRACE COPD study to healthcare professionals and tuberculosis care specialists. The project objectives, study design, and patient recruitment strategy were presented to healthcare professionals involved in tuberculosis care (4 June 2025, Q2 2025)
• Development of the TRACE COPD study infrastructure was initiated. Study documentation, patient selection procedures, and a data management system were established, creating the foundation for participant enrolment in the study (Q1 2025) 

Contact Person

Anna Saliņa
Tel.: +371 29527957
E-mail: anna[pnkts]salinaaslimnica[pnkts]lv