Webinars

Are We Measuring the Right Biology in COPD?

From Heterogeneity to Biology: ECM Remodeling and Precision Trials in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Join this ECM Pharmacology Symposium to explore whether current approaches truly capture the underlying biology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This session focuses on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling as a central disease mechanism, its role in disease heterogeneity, and how ECM-derived biomarkers may support precision trials and improved prognostic assessment.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is traditionally defined and monitored using functional parameters such as airflow limitation. However, COPD is biologically heterogeneous, reflecting distinct pathological processes that are not fully captured by spirometry alone. Structural remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is increasingly recognized as a central mechanism underlying disease progression.

Scientific topics

Persistent inflammation, protease–antiprotease imbalance, and dysregulated tissue repair drive continuous ECM turnover in the lungs. This remodeling alters airway structure, contributes to emphysematous destruction, and shapes the microenvironment that sustains chronic disease activity. Understanding these matrix-driven processes provides a biologically grounded framework for redefining disease subtypes.

ECM-derived biomarkers offer the potential to quantify ongoing tissue remodeling in real time. By reflecting specific collagen formation and degradation pathways, these biomarkers may enable improved assessment of disease activity, stratification of patients, and evaluation of therapeutic response in precision clinical trials.

Beyond COPD progression, ECM remodeling also influences the broader pulmonary microenvironment. Altered matrix composition and stiffness can create conditions that support tumor initiation and growth, linking chronic lung disease biology to lung cancer risk. Exploring the ECM as a pro-tumor niche expands the discussion from chronic inflammation to oncogenic transformation.

Registration is free

Agenda

• Welcome and introduction
• COPD heterogeneity and extracellular matrix remodeling as a core disease mechanism
• ECM biomarkers as tools for disease activity and prognosis – Assessing critical pathways of disease
• From COPD to Lung Cancer – The ECM as a pro-tumor environment

Speaker info coming soon!

In the meantime, feel free to watch our previous webinars.

We are also excited to inform you about our upcoming in-person event, The Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress, taking place in Copenhagen in June 2026. This congress will be a unique opportunity to gather with leading experts in the field and explore the latest advancements in extracellular matrix research and pharmacology.

Please stay tuned for updates as we prepare to bring you another engaging and educational webinar experience. Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to connecting with you soon!

The ECM Pharmacology Symposium Series is a close collaboration with our industry sponsor Nordic Bioscience.