COPDMAP is building a number of research questions around a group of COPD patients. The aim is to get a holistic view of disease progression — all studies are conducted on the same patient samples and groups with full clinical histories and phenotypes. Data are shared across all partners in real time. Key areas for research include understanding the patients more deeply, investigating the exacerbation of symptoms after infection, identifying new disease mechanisms and better understanding the muscle wasting associated with COPD.