More people are dying of lung conditions in the UK than anywhere else in Western Europe.
Yet, respiratory research and innovation remains chronically underfunded, receiving just 2.5% of public funding. It's not enough.
Government, key stakeholders, and funders must take action to fix lung research.
Respiratory research and innovation is suffering, leaving the people who depend on it's discoveries unable to live full and healthy lives. If the government and other key stakeholders invest in these 10 respiratory research priorities we will improve lives, make huge savings for the healthcare system and serve the needs of the 12 million people in the UK who will develop a condition in their lifetime.
These 10 priorities need urgent action:
1. Promote the urgent need to progress respiratory research and innovation.
2. Identify and communicate top-level research goals.
3. Create a platform for lung health research (linking data cohorts).
4. Urgently develop better diagnostic and monitoring tools for lung conditions.
5. Shift our current research approach to develop earlier intervention.
6. Develop new treatments for lung conditions.
7. Accelerate inclusive recruitment to clinical trials.
8. Speed up the early adoption and roll out of new diagnostic and intervention technologies.
9. Drive stronger collaboration across the sector.
10. Invest in the brightest minds.
About LRIG
The Lung Research and Innovation Group is made up of expert organisations and individuals determined to drive progress in lung research and deliver better outcomes for people living with a lung condition.
This paper has been authored by:
- Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Association of British Health Tech Industries
- Asthma + Lung UK
- British Association for Lung Research
- British Thoracic Society
- Cystic Fibrosis Trust
- LifeArc
- NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration
- The Primary Care Respiratory Society
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust
- Sarcoidosis UK
- Professor Eric Alton, Imperial College London
- Dr Lisa Brighton, King's College London
- Dr Hannah Durrington, University of Manchester
- Professor Ian Hall, University of Nottingham and co-chair of LRIG
- Professor Clare Lloyd, Imperial College London
- Professor Jenni Quint, Imperial College London
- Professor Cliff Taggart, Queen's University Belfast