The overall objectives of this study are
- Discover and validate novel biomarkers and gene expression profiles for use in subsequent intervention studies in patients with IPF
- To prospectively validate a panel of previously published biomarkers in patients with well characterized idiopathic fibrosing lung disease
- Investigate genetic associations and epigenetic modifications which affect disease severity and progression
- Prospectively evaluate longitudinal disease behaviour in patients with IPF and NSIP with a view to developing composite clinical end-points for subsequent use in intervention studies in patients with IPF
Biomarkers that can be used for the following purposes will be identified:
- Identify patients (Diagnostic)(e.g. discriminate between health and disease)
- Correlate with disease severity (extent of disease, staging of disease)
- Predict clinical progression (Prognostic)(stable vs progressive disease)
- Track response to therapy (Therapeutic response)- Predict response to known efficacious treatments & Correlates with changes in clinical endpoints/mortality/quality of life
- Predict risk of exacerbations (could be used to prevent exacerbations or reduce their severity)
- Correlate with complications and/or comorbidities (e.g. biomarkers of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Gastro Oesophageal Reflux in IPF, etc)