Cystic Fibrosis network to accelerate therapies discovery

The UK’s first network of cystic fibrosis innovation hubs based at the universities of Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester, and Imperial College London, has been launched  to help speed development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches to detect, treat and manage lung infections.

Medical research charity LifeArc and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust are jointly investing £15 million in the Translational Innovation Hub Network for Lung Health and Infection, which has been guided by the insights and experiences of people with cystic fibrosis (CF).

The network builds on a programme of work funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as part of its CF Innovation Hub at the University of Cambridge. Dr Lucy Allen, Director of Research and Healthcare Data at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust explains: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with LifeArc and expanding our Innovation Hub programme, combining our expertise and exploring exciting areas of research to maximise the impact for people with CF. These new Innovation Hubs will help transform our understanding and lead the way to new ways to test and treat lung infections.”

Cystic fibrosis is one of the UK's most common life-limiting inherited diseases, affecting over 11,000 people here and nearly 200,000 people worldwide.

The Cambridge researchers will use machine learning to help forecast future pulmonary exacerbations from data based on analysis of breath, cough, sputum and blood samples.  

The team at the Imperial College London will focus on detection of  pathogens, such as bacteria, that are often present in the lungs of people with CF. Their aim is to develop new predictive diagnostic tools for lung infections.  

Phage therapy to reduce the negative effects of antibiotics, including antibiotic resistance in people with cystic fibrosis, will be used by the University of Liverpool; this hub will also train early career clinicians and scientists to deliver high quality research in the future.

Researchers at the University of Manchester will study the cause of pulmonary exacerbations for people with cystic fibrosis by analysing blood, saliva, sputum and sweat samples. Gathering spirometry results and recording symptoms via a smartphone app, will enable comparison of different responses by patients to IV treatments. This research will hopefully lead to clinical trials testing different methods for preventing pulmonary exacerbations.

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