Southampton scientists are taking part in a multi-million-pound research hub that aims to improve treatments for cystic fibrosis.
The Southampton Clinical Trials Unit is part of the new CF Innovation Hub, led by the University of Manchester, which will study the triggers that cause 'flare-ups' in the lung condition.
The Southampton unit will then use the results to develop future trials investigating new treatments.
The hub is part of a nationwide network of four CF Innovation Hubs that are being jointly funded with £15m from the medical research charity LifeArc and the charity Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Professor Gareth Griffiths, Director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and co-investigator on the Manchester CF Innovation Hub, said: “Through clinical trials we hope to learn more about who responds to different treatments, and the causes behind that.
"This could provide the evidence that would allow doctors to prescribe the most effective and personalised course of treatment for individual CF patients, reducing flare-ups and improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
“As part of the Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre respiratory theme and located at Southampton General Hospital, which has a track record of trials in cystic fibrosis, SCTU is well placed to link up with the network of CF Innovations Hubs and sites undertaking respiratory research to conduct these future trials and make the research accessible to people with CF across the UK.”
Cystic fibrosis is one of the UK's most common life-limiting inherited diseases, affecting more than 11,000 people in the UK and nearly 200,000 people worldwide.
The condition causes mucus to build up in the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system which can lead to chronic chest infections, lung inflammation and other complications.
The new CF Innovation Hubs have been guided by the insights and experiences of people with the condition.
The research team will study the cause of ‘flare-ups’ by analysing blood, saliva, sputum and sweat samples from patients, gathering lung function test results and recording symptoms via an app and monitoring pollution in homes.
Researchers will also look at why individual people with cystic fibrosis sometimes respond in different ways to IV treatments for exacerbations.
The SCTU will use the results of the Hub’s observational studies to develop a future biomarker-guided platform trial to investigate new treatment approaches for patients with cystic fibrosis.
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