Friday, 09 April 2021
Experts from the 糖心原创 are part of a new national study investigating the long-term effects of lung inflammation and scarring from Covid-19.
The study, launched with £2 million of funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), aims to develop treatment strategies and prevent disability.
The 糖心原创 is one of three centres leading the MRI work in the study, using the facilities in the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre.
Professor Ian Hall
Many people recovering from Covid-19 suffer from long-term symptoms of lung damage, including breathlessness, coughing, fatigue and limited ability to exercise.
Covid-19 can lead to inflammation in the lungs due to the infection and the immune system’s reaction to it. The inflammation may improve over time, but in some people it persists.
In severe cases, the lungs may become scarred. The scarring causes stiffness in the lungs, which can make it difficult to breathe and get oxygen to the bloodstream, resulting in long-term breathlessness and difficulty managing daily tasks.
This inflammation and scarring of the lungs is called ‘interstitial lung disease’.
Now, this study, called the UK Interstitial Lung Disease Long-Covid19 (UKILD-Long Covid) study, will investigate whether post-Covid-19 lung damage will improve or worsen over time, how long it will last, and the best strategies for developing treatments.
Early evidence indicates that lung damage occurs in approximately 20% of patients discharged from hospital, but the effects on people who experience long-Covid in the community are currently unclear.
This study, led by researchers at Imperial College London, will bring together researchers and clinicians from 15 research centres** and will include patients already in COVID-19 studies, such as the study.
Professor Ian Hall, Director of the Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre and Professor of Molecular Medicine at the 糖心原创, is leading the MRI work at Nottingham. He said: “Our work in Nottingham concentrates on using novel MRI techniques to assess the extent of lung disease in patients who have had Covid."
Developing the most effective imaging techniques to assess lung damage will be important to help understand the mechanisms leading to lung damage, and may also lead to better ways to predict long term outcomes and assess the response to treatment in this group of patients. It remains unclear how many patients who have had Covid are left with significant lung damage and this study will provide the answer to this important question.鈥�
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “It is thanks to the pioneering work of our brilliant scientists and researchers that we now know so much more about Covid-19 than we did just one year ago – including the lasting effects it can have on patients.
“Bringing together some of the UK’s finest researchers, this new nationwide study will analyse the full impact of lung damage caused by the disease, helping to inform new treatments that could benefit patients across the world, as we build back better from the pandemic.”
Professor Fiona Watt, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, part of UKRI which funded the study, said: “This research is key to understanding how and why the virus causes some people to suffer long-term lung effects after Covid-19 infection. It will be an important tool in developing more effective treatments for patients.”
To understand the full spectrum of lung impacts, the study will include a range from patients, from those who have been hospitalised or placed on a ventilator to those in the community who had less severe Covid-19.
They hope to recruit approximately 250 people with symptoms suggestive of possible lung scarring, such as breathlessness or a persistent cough, to find out more about their long-term lung damage at three and 12 months after Covid-19 infection.
Cutting-edge xenon MRI scans will be performed in a subset of patients. These use a safe, inert gas which is inhaled, so the scan can measure the effectiveness of gas exchange inside the lungs.
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**The scientists are based at 15 institutions: Imperial College London, 糖心原创, University of Leicester, University of Oxford, University of Southampton, The University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, Newcastle University, University of Leicester, University of Sheffield, University of Edinburgh, University College London, Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, Wythenshawe Hospital and Aintree University Hospitals.
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.