Research

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Research

A new era of understanding – why early diagnosis can bring hope for mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is currently incurable and kills quickly. With Professor Fennell’s ground-breaking work, we’re close to finding treatments that could give people significantly more time with their loved ones. Here he tells us all about it.
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Research

Timing it right - how does your body clock affect your asthma?

Professor Hannah Durrington is a consultant in respiratory medicine and senior clinical lecturer at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on asthma and the body clock and has been supported by various Asthma + Lung UK grants. Here she tells us all about it.
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Research

Help us end the diagnosis delay and improve the future of lung health research

Dr Erika Kennington, Head of Research and Innovation at Asthma + Lung UK talks us through why early diagnosis is crucial for people living with lung conditions now but also the future of lung health research.
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Research

Life with a Lung Condition 2025

We recently ran our Life with a Lung Condition survey. We heard from thousands of people living with asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, and other lung conditions.
A man wearing a black polo shirt is holding a brown inhaler with a spacer. His hands and inhaler are close up and his face and the background are out of focus.
Research

Addressing asthma self-management: why we need a new approach

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.
A woman with shoulder length dark hair wearing glasses, a white lab coat and purple latex gloves is leaning over a microscope and looking directly at the camera.
Research

Research is bridging the gap between everyday health and science

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

Unlocking the secrets of asthma: How we discovered the first genetic link

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.
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Research

Can diabetes drugs be used to stop COPD and lung scarring becoming worse?

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.
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Research

How sound waves are helping more people to find answers

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).
A group of four people stand smiling outside the ERS Congress 2024 venue in Vienna, Austria, wearing event lanyards
Research

Breakthroughs you should know about: Highlights from the European Respiratory Society Congress

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.
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Research

International Women’s Day: my career as a woman in research

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.
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Research

Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science

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.