Identifying the Causes and Risk Factors of Pulmonary Exacerbations in Cystic Fibrosis

This study is mainly looking for adult volunteers with cystic fibrosis (CF), aged 16 or older, who receive their care at a UK adult CF clinic. To be included, you would need to have had at least one flare-up in your CF lung disease in the last 12 months that required antibiotics. You also need to be able to understand the study information and be happy to provide samples from home.

If you're interested in joining Group B, which involves more clinic visits, you'd need to be able to attend one of five specific CF centres: Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Cardiff, or Liverpool. If you're at the Manchester clinic and interested in extra home monitoring, you'll need home internet and be willing to have devices set up in your home.

There's also a small number of places for children with CF, aged 5-16, attending a paediatric clinic at one of the main study centres. Like adults, they would need a confirmed CF diagnosis and to have had a flare-up in the past. Parents or guardians would need to understand and agree for their child to take part.

If you join Group A, you'll have one visit to your clinic at the very beginning of the study. During this visit, you'll provide some general health information, have some lung function tests, and give samples like blood, saliva, and urine. You'll then be given kits to collect samples at home every two weeks for the first six months. There will also be extra kits to use if you have a flare-up. You'll complete questionnaires and use a study app called "Watson" to help you remember when to send samples.

If you join Group B, you'll do everything in Group A, but you'll also have extra visits to your clinic at 1 month and 6 months. If you start to feel unwell, you might be asked to come in for an extra unplanned visit to provide samples before you start any antibiotics. If you're in Group B at the Manchester clinic, you might also have the option to take part in additional home monitoring for air quality and sleep for 12 months.

The study will last for 12 months for all participants. Your involvement doesn't change your usual CF care or medication. For children in the pilot study, the involvement would be similar to Group A but adapted for younger participants. There are also specific opportunities for healthy volunteers to provide samples just once.