Oxford ILD research

We encourage our patients to participate in national and global clinical trials.

Our team

Our research is conducted in partnership with the University of Oxford and trials are led and overseen by the ILD consultants:

• Dr Rachel Hoyles
• Dr Peter Saunders
• Prof Ling-Pei Ho

They are supported by a team of research nurses and practitioners.

Our research trials

Current areas of research include trials of new treatments for IPF, as well as trials to improve symptoms such as cough.

Trials range in intensity and duration, and may be as short as three months, or up to a year, or sometimes longer. All trials that we undertake will have passed a stringent UK ethical review, and there are strict standards in place to protect the safety of trial participants.

Taking part in research

Involvement in a clinical trial will run alongside your usual care. Your health and wellbeing will remain the priority, and the clinical team will always ensure that you are on the most appropriate treatment available.

Your clinician may invite you to take part in a clinical trial. It is entirely your decision whether to take part, and if you prefer not to, it will not affect your care in any way. We are always happy to discuss the possible risks and benefits of taking part in a trial, without any obligation to take part. Similarly, should you change your mind during the trial, you are free to withdraw at any time.

Sometimes we can combine trial activity with your usual clinic visits, but usually participation in trials will involve more frequent visits to the hospital. If this is the case, travel and parking expenses will be refunded, and trial sponsors are often willing to fund taxis.

Trial visits will take place on the Churchill Hospital site, and depending on the trial, may be conducted in purpose-built facilities owned by the University. We appreciate that people have other commitments and aim to be as flexible as possible with visit times.

How to find the Churchill Hospital

How to get involved

If you are interested in being involved in research, please contact us.

Email: respiratorytrialsunit@ouh.nhs.uk

With your consent, we can add your details to a secure, confidential database, with view to contacting you when a suitable trial is recruiting.

Trials recruiting

TIPAL

Treating people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with the addition of lansoprazole

This is a trial run by the University of East Anglia which aims to recruit 298 participants from different regions of the UK.

Aim

Previous research suggests that Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis progresses slower if patients regularly take anti-acid drugs (like lansoprazole) and they may be likely to survive longer. Such drugs reduce stomach acid which is thought to cause the scar formation and/or may directly reduce the amount of scar tissue. This is why people are often prescribed these drugs, but we don't really know if they benefit patients; the aim of the study is to find this out.

What is involved

After signing a consent form, you will be randomly allocated to receive either the medication, lansoprazole, or a placebo, which will be delivered to you at home. The duration of the trial is 12 months, and is conducted remotely, so that you will not need to make additional visits to the hospital.

A blood sample will need to be taken at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 month time points, but this can be done at your local surgery. You will be asked to complete weekly breathing tests at home, but training will be given.

CSL312_2002

This is a trial involving 80 participants from 50 sites around the world.

Aim

CSL312 is a new drug that blocks the activity of a blood clotting factor called Factor XIIa. CSL312 may be able to decrease production of substances that cause the inflammation and fibrosis that lead to scarring of the lungs. This study is being carried out to see if CSL312 is safe and effective in treating lung fibrosis and if so, how it compares with placebo. This study will measure levels of study drug in the blood and see how well it is tolerated.

What is involved

The study involves 12 visits over 18 weeks. You would be given four doses of either the active medication or the placebo. The first dose is given into a vein, and the following three are given by subcutaneous injection. Assessments will be completed such as vital signs, blood tests, ECGs and lung function tests.

Current trials

A study to investigate the safety, tolerability, and potential effect of RXC007 in patients with IPF

This is a trial involving 3 groups of 16 participants from 40 sites around the world.

Aim

RXC007 is being developed for the treatment of a range of different diseases which are associated with fibrosis and inflammation, including IPF. This trial aims to determine the safety and tolerability of RXC007. It will also investigate the concentration of RXC007 in the blood at different time points and the effect of RXC007 on the body.

The results from this study will be used to support the development and understanding of this study drug for future application in the treatment of diseases associated with inflammation and fibrosis.

What is involved

The main study will consist of three groups of 16 patients, with each group investigating a different dose strength of RXC007. You would either be given RXC007 or a matching placebo (which contains no active drug) and would be required to take the dose twice a day over a period of 84 days, split into three dosing cycles of 28 days. The study medication (RXC007 or placebo) would be taken as a capsule to be swallowed with water.

Your participation in the trial would last for a minimum of 20 weeks (from the initial screening visit to the final study visit). There would be 11 visits to the hospital during this time for study assessments which would include the taking of blood and urine samples, vital signs, ECG and lung function tests.

Following completion of the third dosing cycle, if the study doctors and sponsor determine that it is appropriate to do so, you may be invited to continue in the study for a further 12 weeks.

A study to find out if orvepitant is safe to use and reduces the severity of cough in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

This study will take place in around 30 locations worldwide and is aiming to recruit at least 88 participants.

Aim

This trial involves a medication called orvepitant which is not yet approved for use. The aim of the trial is to discover how well orvepitant works in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) who have chronic cough.

What is involved

This trial involves six visits and two phone calls over a period of 17 weeks. You would take study drug once a day for two four-week periods (Treatment Period A and B). In one of these four-week periods you will take orvepitant and in the other you will take placebo.

At three visits during the study, you would have a cough monitor fitted to record your coughing over a period of 24 hours each time. You would be asked to complete a diary every day for about 13 weeks. Other assessments would be completed such as vital signs, ECGs, questionnaires and blood samples.

A double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of BI 1015550 over at least 52 weeks in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF and ILD)

Two studies: one testing IPF (1305-0014) and one testing ILD (1305-0023).

The rationale is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of BI 1015550 9mg bid and 18mg bid compared to placebo in patients with progressive fibrosing IPFs / ILDs in addition to patients' standard of care over the course of at least 52 weeks.

New treatments with better tolerability are needed for patients with IPFs / ILDs to further reduce the decline in lung function and improve quality of life.

Based on its anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties and the preliminary clinical evidence described, BI 1015550 may provide an additional treatment option to patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis irrespective of concomitant treatment with standard of care.

Nurse-led research

Abstracts

Pirfenidone side-effect risk stratification: targeting nursing support at a single UK prescribing centre | European Respiratory Society (erj.ersjournals.com)

Real world patient experience of home spirometry within a UK ILD centre | European Respiratory Society (erj.ersjournals.com)

Patient perspective on antifibrotic monitoring - impact on management at a single UK prescribing centre (erj.ersjournals.com)

Patient perceived facilitators to greater self-management using home spirometry (erj.ersjournals.com)