For decades, physicians have relied on spirometry to detect chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

 However, the global metrics derived from spirometry (a noninvasive breathing test) cannot sense regional lung damage in early disease. By the time these global indices of lung disease signal a decline, years of subtle damage to the lungs already have taken place. Dr. Eric A. Hoffman, Professor of Radiology, Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering at The University of Iowa, has spent his career studying human lung pathology and pathophysiology associated with inflammatory lung diseases, including COPD. He has developed imaging methods to detect that damage earlier—well before patients feel short of breath or show abnormalities on standard exams.

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