UEA research into chronic lung condition begins

The new funding could help patients with their breathing difficulties

People with a serious lung condition are being asked to take part in a £2m research project aimed at reducing scarring of the lungs.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult.

There is currently nothing that can stop or reduce that scarring.

The University of East Anglia, in Norwich, has secured funding to look into possible treatments.

A team will investigate whether lansoprazole - a commonly prescribed medication for indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux - could help.

Lead researcher Prof Andrew Wilson, from the university's medical school, said: "It's not clear what causes IPF, but we think that acid refluxing from the stomach to the lungs may be involved.

Prof Andrew Wilson, from the university's medical school, will be heading up the research

"Symptoms can include shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, tiredness, a loss of appetite and weight loss, and rounded and swollen fingertips.

"These symptoms tend to develop gradually and get slowly worse over time."

Several treatments can help reduce the rate at which IPF gets worse, but there is currently nothing that can stop or reverse lung scarring.

The trial, funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and sponsored by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will investigate the impact of taking lansoprazole among almost 300 patients aged over 40, who have been diagnosed with IPF.

Half of the patients will be given the drug, while the other half will be given a placebo - or dummy tablet - twice a day for 12 months.

The team will use CT scans to assess whether the medication is helping to reduce lung scarring alongside home-based spirometry measurements - a breathing test which measures how much air you can breathe in and out of your lungs.

Part of the trial will be carried out in collaboration with Brainomix, an Oxford-based company specialising in AI-powered imaging tools.

Prof Wilson said: "Not only will this venture tell whether lansoprazole improves the scarring detected on CT scans, but it will allow us to compare CT scan abnormalities to home-based lung function tests."