Research

The UK has one of the highest asthma death rates in Europe. Over half of these deaths are considered preventable through better self-management. We developed a map of asthma management behaviours to help us understand what the barriers to and enablers of better asthma self-management.

From exploring the genetic cues behind asthma to studying how air pollution affects the lungs, research is leading the way to better lung health.

At the Royal Brompton and Harefield Trust, consultant chest physician Dr William Man and his team have taken a difficult lung test and made it as simple as breathing in and out. He’s discovered a ground-breaking new way of using sound waves to measure how well the lungs are working in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

People with lung conditions, like COPD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), often experience flare-ups (also known as exacerbations). This is where their breathing and other symptoms suddenly get worse over a short period of time, often leaving them unable to breathe.

Today it’s a well-established fact that lung conditions can be influenced by our genes. But this wasn’t always the case. Pioneering research funded by Asthma UK, one of the founding organisations of Asthma + Lung UK, discovered the first genetic link to asthma. Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Innovation, tells us all about this ground-breaking research and the importance of its legacy today.

The European Respiratory Society Congress is one of the biggest events in respiratory research. Three jam-packed days of science, innovation and breakthroughs. Here's what we got excited about at this year’s event.

On International Women’s Day, our Director of Research and Innovation, Dr Sam Walker, reflects on her career as a woman in research and the importance of researching how lung conditions affect women in different ways.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an opportunity to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. Dr Sam Walker, Director of Research and Innovation at Asthma + Lung UK introduces some of the amazing women in respiratory research we’re funding.

Over 1 in 3 people with COPD report symptoms of anxiety and depression. Yet, challenges with mental health are often under-recognised and under-treated in people living with chronic lung disease. Dr Lisa Brighton tells us about her important research into ways to support people with COPD and their mental health.

Clinical trials are an essential part of medical research, looking at new ways to prevent, detect or treat disease. But recruitment into trials is struggling, with the number of patients accessing industry research falling by 44% between 2017 and 2021 (ABPI 2022). This is a serious threat to the long-term future of clinical research in the UK – and the benefits it brings to patients, the NHS and the economy.

For some people with long-term lung conditions, their symptoms can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Dr Lisa Jane Brighton, a researcher at King’s College London, explains why we should be thinking about how living with a long-term lung condition can affect people’s social wellbeing.

Our vision at Asthma + Lung UK is for a world where everyone has healthy lungs. When people are left struggling to breathe, getting them the right treatment starts with early and accurate diagnosis. Dr Erika Kennington, Head of Research and Innovation, tells us more about Asthma + Lung UK’s £2 million investment in improving diagnosis and why better diagnosis tools, techniques, and approaches are key to saving the nation’s lung health.