Is Bronchiechtasis widely researched?
No – because up until relatively recently bronchiectasis was not thought to be very prevalent. However, it is now recognised that the prevalence is greater than previously thought and it may be that much goes undiagnosed – or mis-diagnosed.
What are the Implications?
Most current treatment is not founded on well-established research studies but rather upon clinical observation. The growing number of patients at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh clinic provides an excellent opportunity to carry out research trials and most patients willingly take part in the studies. The research is both clinical and laboratory based.
Nature of Research
It is largely in the form of proof of concept, which is taking ideas and seeing whether they work in small scale. Larger scale trials across wider groupings of patients would be required to establish such treatments as more generally acceptable. But such studies are crucial as a start to that further research.
More immediately studies increase the prospect of better treatments being available quicker to patients at clinics which is a key aim of this work.
Our Research Team
We are a team of 3 nurses, a clinical trial assistant and a post doctoral researcher. Our focus with Professor Hill is both commercial and academic studies for the treatment of bronchiectasis and infection.
Previous studies have included:
- The use of inhaled antibiotics for mycobacterium avium infection
- Use of statins for infections in bronchiectasis
- Clinimetric study using Lung Clearance Index for bronchiectasis patients
- Inhaled antibiotics for bronchiectasis patients
Our current studies include:
- Inhaled antibiotics for bronchiectasis patients who grow pseudomonas aeruginosa
- UK registry for bronchiectasis patients with 3 year follow up
- Randomised controlled trial using carbocisteine and nebulised saline for bronchiectasis patients
- Pneumonia study for patients who have been admitted with a community acquired pneumonia
- Antibiotic targeted therapy for patients who have been admitted with a pneumonia
- Immunoglogulin replacement therapy for patients with a specific low immunoglobulin
We recruit patients from within the Bronchiectasis Service in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Contact details: 0131 242 1852
Last Reviewed -26 July 2019