The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Biomarker Qualification Consortium (CBQC), which is sponsored by the COPD Foundation, has joined forces with the Bio-Techne Corporation to evaluate a predictive biomarker to support subject selection for clinical trials in emphysema. Increasing evidence suggests that a soluble form of receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) could serve as an indicator of the presence and/or progression of emphysema, as well as airflow obstruction. A validated commercial assay for sRAGE could be used to target drug/biologic development and optimize treatment. The COPD Foundation, along with its partners in the CBQC and Bio-Techne, will work with a working group of industry and academic affiliates on the initiative to create such a test. The program aims to develop the assay in a small number of samples first, and then to evaluate the selected assay based on the Food and Drug Administration guidance for clinical bioanalytical method validation