What next?
What next?
About this study
The diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis can be challenging. Sometimes people are misdiagnosed or wait a long time for the correct diagnosis.
A new technology called eNose may help to diagnose people living with PF. The technology involves looking at the compounds in the air breathed out by someone living with PF which has potentially useful information for diagnosis and understanding disease progression.
The ILDnose study is investigating if the new technology can be used to help with diagnosis and determine which type of pulmonary fibrosis someone has.
There are many different types of research. These studies might ask participants to test different treatments, devices, or complete questionnaires. Some studies may not require any involvement from people affected by PF, but instead look at cells in a lab environment, animal models, or utilise computer modelling.
A study involving people can be:
- Interventional – participants are given an active treatment decided by researchers. This could be a change in medication or lifestyle (e.g. exercise, diet, complementary wellbeing therapy, or symptom management). These are commonly known as clinical trials.
- Observational – participants are assessed for specific changes over time, but researchers do not alter their standard treatment or care (e.g. questionnaires to understand the impact of symptom, or patient registries that track trends in how disease affects people or the services that are provided).
There are 3 main phases of clinical trials:
- Phase 1 is the earliest stage of research, where there is often a focus on understanding if the treatment is safe or if it causes any side effects.
- Phase 2 still focuses on safety and side effects, but also tries to find out more about what is the best dose.
- Phase 3 often compares the new treatment to existing treatments or lookalike medications.
As drugs or interventions move into the different phases, the number of people taking part will increase. Not all studies will make it to the later phases, especially if the intervention is not found to be safe or effective in phase 1 and 2.
The recruitment aim is the number of people that researcher want to take part in the research study.
What is involved?
You may be able to take part in the study either before or after a routine outpatient hospital appointment. You will be asked to drink some water. For the exhaled breath analysis, you will need to breathe in and out into a machine via a disposable mouthpiece, whilst wearing a nose clip. This will then be repeated 1 minute after. The eNose technology will assess your breaths. The process is non-invasive and takes approximately 5-10 minutes in total. The breath is exerting but not as much as a spirometry blow that is done during lung function testing. You will be asked to blow softly and slowly for as long as you can after holding your breath for 5 seconds.
If you are coming back for another clinic or lung function appointment, you may be asked to repeat the exhaled breath analysis.
Following the measurements with the new technology, you will be asked to complete a short survey and questionnaire. Information will also be collected from your medical records at the time of the assessment, 6 months, 12 months and then up to 24 months after.
Summary of involvement
Assessment at the same time as outpatient clinic appointment
Non-invasive use of eNose technology
Short survey and a questionnaire
Can I take part?
You may be able to take part if you are of any age and have a diagnosis of fibrotic ILD. Adults over the age of 18 years are are able to take part.
In research studies, there are lots of different reasons why you may or may not be able to take part. These are known as inclusion and exclusion criteria (see list below). Only the research team will be able to fully determine whether you are able to take part in the study. You can withdraw at any point.
If you are not able to take part in this research study, there may be other opportunities for you to take part in different studies.
To find out more about other research opportunities visit our research finder main page.
Aged 18 years and over
Diagnosis of fibrotic ILD
Fibrosis must have been seen on a HRCT scan less than 1 year before the study
Alcohol consumption less than 12 hours before the measurement
Physically not able to carry out the assessment
What difference could taking part make?
Taking part in ILDnose will help researchers to understand if eNose technology can be used to help with the diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis.
Where does the study take place?
Study locations
Royal Brompton Hospital
How to take part
To take part, please discuss the study with your medical team at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
If you are not currently receiving care at a different hospital but able willing and able to travel, you can speak to your current healthcare team about being referred to the ILD Team at the Royal Brompton Hospital. This will enable you to be assigned to a consultant and take part in research studies.
Further information
This page is a summary which provides information about an opportunity to participate in research. More detailed information about the study can be found via the following the links and through contacting the research team.
If you have any questions about this research study, please speak to your medical team.
r.ild@rbht.nhs.ukThis study is supported by
APF does not endorse or recommend any specific study. All responsibility for the study remains with the sponsors and investigators.
Every effort is made to keep these details up to date. If you are aware of any inaccuracies, please email research@actionpf.org