Research themes and clinical trials

Our research themes

POSTPF STUDY

Imperial College London is running a qualitative research project (meaning there are no medications to take) to understand people's views of screening and early treatment in pulmonary fibrosis to help develop an effective screening programme.   This project is called POSTPF. 

You may be able to participate if you: 

• Have a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis   
• Are the first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) of a person diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis
• Have participated in screening for lung cancer  (called lung health check in the UK)
• Are a healthcare professional working with people with pulmonary fibrosis for three or more years

The study involves sharing your views in a one-to-one interview (approx. 60 minutes) via remote video call (Teams or Zoom). The discussion will be recorded and transcribed, and a face-to-face interview will be available for those living in London. 

This research project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

If you are interested in taking part or would like more information about this study, please email postpfstudy@imperial.ac.uk 

Genetics

These projects are performed in partnership with the Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership and aim to understand the role of rare and common genetic variants in the cause and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. 

Fundamental Biology 

Defining Endotypes of pulmonary fibrosis (John and Jenkins). This project focuses on the function consequences of genetic abnormalities that are being identified as risk factors for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and determining the severity of the disease. The focus of these study will be to understand the molecular consequences in alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts and the work funded by the Medical Research Council. 

Biomarker Development

Developing a biomarker guided strategy to treat patients with pulmonary fibrosis Cohort Studies (Stewart and Jenkins). The project uses data obtained from a range of cohort studies including the PROFILE, INJUSTIS, SUMMIT and Long COVID ILD studies and is funded by the NIHR. It aims to use big data strategies to determine whether serum biomarkers can be used to help decide when to start therapy for fibrotic lung disease.  

FUTURE Fibrosis Study (Fabbri and Jenkins). This project involves qualitative research preparing the foundations for a feasibility study to determine whether asymptomatic people at risk of progressive pulmonary fibrosis would be able to take preventative anti-fibrotic therapy. 

Drug Development 

Development of inhaled, dual EP2/4 receptor agonists for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This project is funded by the MRC Biomedical Catalyst Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (Professor Charlton University of Nottingham) and will involve assessing the pre-clinical efficacy of a dual EP2/4 receptor agonist in a range of experimental models of pulmonary fibrosis.  

Post COVID Pulmonary Fibrosis

The UK Interstitial Lung Disease Post-COVID19 study (UKILD-Post COVID) aims to understand how much lung fibrosis will occur following COVID-19. The XMAS study (Lead Prof Wild University of Sheffield) looks at the ability of Xenon MRI to detect subtle perfusion abnormalities in the lungs of patients who have suffered from COVID-19. The POSTCODE study (Lead Dr Molyneaux NHLI) will use ‘omic technologies to identify the cellular and molecular changes that are associated with resolution or progression of inflammation and fibrosis following COVID-19.  This project is funded by the Medical Research Council to investigate the prevalence of post COVID Interstitial Lung Disease and the biological mechanisms that lead to the development of scarring following SAR-CoV-2 infection.

Multi-Morbid Fibrotic Disease

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is associated with a range of different chronic fibrotic diseases such as Connective Tissue Diseases, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Liver Disease and Myelofibrosis. The DEMISTIFI consortium, funded by an MRC-NIHR Strategic Priority Fund, has been established to investigate the genetic, biological and clinical features that may lead to the development of fibrotic diseases across a range of multi-organ diseases. 

REMAP-ILD

An inclusive collaborative project bringing together experts in fibrotic ILD (researchers, clinicians, patients, industry) to develop an adaptive platform trial which will identify treatments faster. Led by Professor Gisli Jenkins and funded by NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Accelerator Award – International platform studies in precision medicine REMAP-ILD.

Clinical trials

We work very closely with the Royal Brompton Hospital (RBH) and recruit patients for clinical trials through the RBH Clinical Trials Unit. See link below for up to date details:

https://www.rbht.nhs.uk/research/our-research/active-research-studies

AP01-007 (MIST Study)

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of AP01 high dose twice a day (BID) or AP01 low dose twice a day (BID) compared to placebo twice a day (BID). It will consist of 12 on-site visits (screening visit 1 & 2, baseline, weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, 26, 38, 48 & 52).

You may be able to participate if you: 

• Have a diagnosis of PPF 
• Have been on Nintedanib ≥ 6 months, discontinuing must have been ≥ 12 weeks & can initiate if 
  progression occurs
•  Treated for non-pulmonary manifestations of RA/CTD must have been on standard of care ≥ 12 weeks

See a full list of inclusion and exclusion criteria here: AP01-007 (MIST Study)

If you are interested in taking part or would like more information about this study, please email Vladimir Domi, Clinical Research Coordinator.