Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment
We seek climate solutions that can provide for a healthier and more just world today and a livable future for our children.
665 Huntington Avenue
Building 1, Room 1312
Boston, MA 02115
Helping COPD patients breathe easier
Federal funding for this project was terminated in May 2025. We are actively fundraising to continue the work.
Impact level: Individuals
Location: Boston
What problem are we trying to solve?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an incurable and deadly disease that affects 15% of adults over 40 years of age in the United States and is made worse by exposure to air pollution. COPD is the third most common cause of death in the United States. We have found that people with eosinophilic COPD, an inflammatory subtype affecting more than a third of COPD patients, are more susceptible to air pollution.
What climate and health solution are we researching?
We are using a randomized control trial—the “gold standard” for testing interventions—to test whether high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers improve symptoms and lung function in people with eosinophilic COPD.
What’s the level of impact?
This solution may improve individual patients’ lives and provide a potential low-risk, non-drug intervention that may prevent airborne triggers of COPD symptoms, such as traffic pollution, allergens, and smoke. If the evidence supports their use, HEPA filters could be covered by medical insurance as durable medical equipment, much like supplemental oxygen or nebulizer machines.
Who will this research benefit?
This research aims to improve the health of eosinophilic COPD patients by reducing their exposure to particles that worsen airway inflammation, potentially providing a way to reduce the need for costly medications.
Where is the research happening?
Learn more
To learn more about this clinical trial, contact Anna Miller.
