Given the potential role of infection response in IPF physiopathology, and the suggested association of HLA-DQB1*06:02 and HLA-DRB1*15:01 with disease, here we present the largest analysis of the HLA region in IPF patients, comprising seven independent case–control cohorts for IPF, with a total of over 5000 cases and 27 000 controls. Here, HLA-DRB1 is linked to idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.