The study individual will undergo fiberoptic bronchoscopy with a combination of bronchial brushing and/or bronchoalveolar lavage and/or bronchial wall biopsy. The primary factor for determining if an individual will have bronchial alveolar lavages (BAL) and/or brushings and/or biopsies is the particular lung disease affecting the individual. This will depend on the known mechanism relevant to the pathogenesis of the particular disease. For example, in individuals with asthma, the samples may include airway brushing and airway biopsies; in contrast, in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sampling may include airway brushings, airway biopsies, and bronchoalveolar lavage. Other determining factors include: the amount of moderate sedation (if used) and the amount of analgesia used; the maximal dosage of topical lidocaine that is allowed per procedure; allergic reactions to any of the medications used in the procedures; and individual's tolerance to the procedure.