Better Tests- Improving Diagnostic Accuracy and Prognostication in Interstitial Lung Diseases

NCT07615504 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 3-067-24Charity
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 750
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

Patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD) suffer significant delays in obtaining a diagnosis, and objective evidence of support for immunosuppressive therapies, due to weaknesses in the diagnostic tests available in ILD clinics. This project will assess several non-invasive assessments, focusing on blood and breath based sampling, to identify candidate tests that may translate through to routine clinical use. The tests being assessed will be initially employed in Pigeon Fanciers, a group recognised to be at high risk of developing ILD compared to age matched controls, due to their regular exposure to a known cause of ILD. Candidate tests will also be assessed for change over time in this group. Tests which show promise will then be utilised in patients with ILD diagnoses, including those with severe respiratory failure, to assess their acceptability to patients and their ability to provide useful prognostic information, to allow powering of future definitive clinical trials.

Conditions

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)

Keywords

Interstitial Lung Disease; Lung fibrosis; Non-invasive assessment; Pigeon fanciers; Prognostication; Diagnosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Prediction of subsequent clinical outcomes

  The utilised tests will be examined for their ability to accurately predict the subsequent diagnostic label for ILD and clinical behaviour

  5 years

• Acceptability to participants

  The tests employed will be assessed for their ease of performance and acceptability from a participant perspective

  5 years

Study Arms (3)

Pigeon Fanciers

Active Pigeon Fanciers

Clinic patients with ILD

Patients with established Interstitial Lung Disease attending clinic

Hospital patients with ILD

Patients with established Interstitial Lung Disease admitted due to their condition

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 90 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: All
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Active Pigeon Fanciers, or patients with ILD presenting to clinics or hospital services with severe respiratory failure due to ILD

You may qualify if:

• To participate subjects will either have to be active Pigeon Fanciers, or will be either attending ILD clinics for management of their interstitial lung disease or will present acutely to hospital services with severe respiratory failure due to ILD.

You may not qualify if:

• Unable to provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Dundee: lead
• NHS Tayside: collaborator
• British Pigeon Fanciers Medical Research: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

Winter Gardens

Blackpool, FY1 1HU, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Ninewells Hospital

Dundee, DD21UB, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Perth Royal Infirmary

Perth, PH1 1NX, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITHOUT DNA

Blood and breath samples

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Fibrosis; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Mark Spears, PhD FRCP

  NHS Tayside and University of Dundee

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Mark Spears, PhD FRCP

CONTACT

+44 1738 473861; mspears001@dundee.ac.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 5 Years
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Consultant Respiratory Physician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2026
• First Posted: May 29, 2026
• Study Start: January 17, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2036
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2036
• Last Updated: May 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

GB (3)