FAM13A and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Therefore, our work describing a physiological function for the FAM13A long isoform in the regulation of cilia function has clear relevance to COPD pathogenesis, as any dysregulation of this function could underlie the increased susceptibility to lung diseases such as COPD in the presence of FAM13A risk alleles, especially when compounded with the effects of environmental risk factors.