The UConn Health Center recently enrolled the 1,000th patient for the Bronchiectasis Research Registry. The registry is the world’s largest database of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients from multiple clinical institutions willing to participate in research studies.

“The fact that 1,000 patients with bronchiectasis are now enrolled in this registry opens new avenues for collaborative research, but, more importantly, signals an opportunity for individuals to begin seeking medical treatment for this uncommon and rarely curable respiratory disorder,” says Dr. Mark Metersky, pulmonologist at the Health Center.

The goal of the registry is to support collaborative research and assist in the planning of multi-center clinical trials for the treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis—a progressive, non-curable disease of the lungs which afflicts thousands of patients. The Bronchiectasis Research Registry will also be used to provide better insight into what causes the different types of bronchiectasis, as well as the pathophysiology of the disorder.

The registry is sponsored by the COPD Foundation and operates under the guidance and direction of the Bronchiectasis Research Consortium.

John W. Walsh, president of the COPD Foundation, says, “The continued expansion of this registry will provide an invaluable resource mechanism for researchers who need a cohort of bronchiectasis patients, in turn accelerating the exploration and investigation of therapies that will hopefully improve the quality of life for these patients.”

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