"The cooperation for which we are currently laying the foundation is unique and incredibly valuable to both researchers and patients. We know that many of these diseases are caused by tobacco, but what we do not have is a knowledge of the link between the major diseases. We hope that research of this kind will lead to improvements for both patients and health care," says Bertil Lindmark, head of AstraZeneca´s clinical research into airways and inflammatory diseases.

Traditionally, research usually involves transferring the results of research from the laboratory to patients at the clinic, but with Big 3 the reverse is true. Here, researchers are working on the basis that humans themselves provide the best model organism for research. A couple of thousand patients suffering from COPD, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease will therefore constitute the foundation for a major database which researchers can use to test whether their experimental hypotheses can be confirmed.
"This is a further step in the right direction for our work on producing long-term solutions concerning how research and health care can work together so that we can reduce both patients´ suffering and social costs in the long term," says Regional Director Sören Olofsson in a comment.

"This is an enormously important initiative that will make Region Skåne more attractive as it will be necessary to implement further clinical trials here," says Jerker Swanstein, Chairman of the Regional Board in a comment.