ProfessorNick Hopkinson

Lung volume reduction in COPD: These approaches offer a chance to improve symptoms dramatically in what is otherwise a progressive disease. Starting with the first case series describing bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves I showed it to be one of the very few interventions which improves survival in COPD, that it reduces dynamic hyperinflation during exercise, and that it improves chest wall synchrony and oxygen kinetics. Iled the MRC funded BeLieVeR-HIFi study, the first double blind randomised controlled trial of endobronchial valves and the CELEB trial, a multicentre NIHR funded study comparing valve placement and surgery directly. The UKLVR study is an Asthma Lung UK funded project to develop a national Lung Volume Reduction Register.
Physical activity limitation and skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD: This has included demonstrating that skeletal muscle weakness occurs even in early COPD associated with reduced physical activity levels, investigating the effect of ACE-I and dietary nitrate supplementation on skeletal muscle and vascular function in COPD. International collaborations include the EU/IMI PROactive project developing a patient reported outcome for physical activity in COPD and the Horizon 2020 MOBILISE-D project developing digital mobility outcomes.
Smoking and tobacco control: I was Chair of Action on Smoking and Health, ASH(UK) for seven years until March 2026 and continue to serve on the board. I also serve on the Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Advisory Committee. Work to prevent uptake of smoking and help smokers to quit is fundamental to addressing the burden of COPD. My contributions include highlighting rates of child uptake of smoking which contributed to the adoption of measures on standardised packaging for tobacco products and the ban on smoking in cars with children. I have demonstrated the effectiveness of smokign cessation in the context of lung cancer screening, and worked on the global environmental impact of tobacco production and consumption. Collaborations include the FRESHAIR project promoting lung health in low and middle income countries. 
High value care: COPD affects 1.3 million people in the UK. Ensuring that they receive good care and that high value interventions are prioritised is a major challenge. Key activities include developing the COPD discharge care bundle focusing on the delivery of high value interventions. This is linked to the pyramid of value concept - emphasising the evidence base and low cost per QALY of interventions in COPD including flu vaccination and pulmonary rehabilitation.
With the London Respiratory Network I developed the Breathing SPACE approach for reviewing the care of any chronically breathless patient.