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All aboard - first people take part in ground-breaking lung research
A ground-breaking study into lung health and disease, using Nottingham’s mobile research unit, has recruited its first volunteers this week.
The Mobile Research Unit (pictured), which is part of the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) Nottingham Clinical Research Facility based here at NUH, is hosting a study to assess the lung health of people at risk of a condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The first people to be invited to take part are from the Clifton area of the city.
The study is called, Case Finding in Nottingham and district: C-FIND COPD, and aims to assess lung health and help diagnose COPD earlier. NHS England estimates that 1.2 million people are affected by COPD in the UK with COPD exacerbations accounting for 1 in 8 hospital admissions. A 40% increase in COPD prevalence is projected by 2030. COPD can cause shortness of breath and a cough. These symptoms can limit how far people can walk. People who currently smoke or have smoked are particularly at risk. This study examines the best way to conduct lung health checks and focuses on earlier diagnosis.
The study is led by Professor Charlotte Bolton from the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), and the University of Nottingham. Professor Bolton said: "It is fantastic to see the first people recruited to the C-FIND COPD study and using the mobile unit. There has been a lot of hard work by many people to get to this point, for which many thanks. We are now delivering real research in the real world and with immediate impact on a person’s health.”
The C-FIND COPD study is currently inviting people who have undergone a recent lung health CT scan to appointments on the Unit. It is based in the car park of Morrison’s supermarket in Clifton and will be there until mid-November. Volunteers who take up the invitation will be offered breathing tests and asked to complete questionnaires to assess their lung status. They will also benefit from guidance and advice on lung health from our research experts, as well as offered ways to get involved in further research.
Professor Bolton explains how this research is linked to the national programme to improve the diagnosis of lung cancer: "Recently, the NHS has started offering a CT scan to people at high risk of lung cancer. These people are also at risk of COPD. How, when and where to offer a wider lung health check is currently unclear and is the focus of this research, to support those at risk and the NHS, without putting further pressure on a busy clinical service”.
Using the Unit brings the research closer to local communities, making appointments easier for people to attend. The Unit which was launched in July, includes a fully-equipped clinical research clinic and laboratory on wheels, as well as being fully accessible. It will be based in Clifton for the next few weeks following which further locations will be arranged.
The C-FIND COPD study is supported by the NIHR Nottingham BRC, NIHR Nottingham Clinical Research Facility, NIHR East Midlands Clinical Research Network and AstraZeneca. It has been developed with input from primary care and hospital healthcare professionals as well as researchers.