Translational Challenge
Chronic Respiratory Infection
Our vision is to enable people with bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis to live longer, with an improved quality of life by breaking the cycle of infection, inflammation and lung damage.
We progress discoveries that can intervene earlier, reduce treatment burden and improve the quality of life for those living with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.
People living with these conditions are caught in a vicious cycle of infection, inflammation and permanent lung damage – and running low on treatment options due to antibiotic resistance or a lack of effective therapies.
While chronic lung infection is common in people living with these conditions, acute flare ups cause deterioration of lung health, resulting in frequent hospitalisations for emergency treatment.
Better ways are needed to treat and manage these conditions through improved therapeutics and diagnostics.
~200,000
adults in the UK have bronchiectasis
Over 11,000
people in the UK are living with cystic fibrosis
What do we want to achieve?
We’re focused on early detection, right diagnosis and better treatments, by enabling:
- tools to predict exacerbations much earlier, and help people living with these conditions receive the right treatment sooner
- new diagnostics to improve clinical decision making
- access to new treatments, including repurposed drugs, that tackle infection, inflammation and reduce side effects and the burden of treatment
- people living with these conditions to live longer, with less severe chronic and recurrent infections, reduced exacerbations and a better quality of life
How you can work with us
We collaborate with academics, charities, healthcare professionals and industry on projects to find:
New digital tools and data approaches to predict exacerbations earlier
New diagnostics tools and approaches to improve clinical decision making
New therapies, including repurposed drugs
Commercial, legal and regulatory process to protect your intellectual property
Partnerships and initiatives
A national network of research hubs to transform cystic fibrosis care
LifeArc and Cystic Fibrosis Trust have launched the UK’s first Translational Innovation Hub Network to accelerate the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics for lung infections.
Accelerating the diagnosis of chronic lung infections with a target product profile (TPP)
We are developing a Simple Lung Test TPP to guide the development of tests to diagnose or triage patients suspected of chronic lung conditions.
Rare Disease Clinical Trials Programme
This programme is an opportunity for researchers working on any rare disease to apply for funding, alongside advice and support from our internal teams, to progress their innovations through clinical trials.
CF AMR Syndicate: boosting the translation of cystic fibrosis diagnostics and therapeutics
The syndicate supports and accelerates the translation of new diagnostics and antimicrobials by providing diligence work, scientific expertise, and funding.
View our chronic respiratory infection resources
Who to contact
-
Katy Kettleborough
Read bio: Katy Kettleborough
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Chris Claxton
Read bio: Chris Claxton
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