Cystic Fibrosis Translational Innovation Hub Network in Lung Health and Infection

Funding for new translational Innovation Hubs that will form part of a national network to conduct interdisciplinary, cross-institution programmes for the translation and development of solutions and interventions in lung health and infection for people living with cystic fibrosis.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust (CFT) and LifeArc have committed £15 million to fund the establishment of up to three new Innovation Hubs that will develop interdisciplinary, cross-institution programmes for the development and translation of solutions and interventions in lung health and infection for people living with cystic fibrosis (CF). One key objective is to address major themes in science translation and overcome key obstacles to improve outcomes for people living with CF.

The Innovation Hubs will be built around specific translational themes and across institutions/centres of excellence to create an ecosystem to progress interventions for chronic infection and lung health in people with CF.

Each Innovation Hub should aim to take an integrated, holistic approach to improve the lung health of people with CF guided by the refreshed James Lind Alliance CF research priorities and the following themes:

• New and repurposed therapeutics development for the treatment of lung infection and inflammation in CF
• Treatment and prevention of exacerbation
• Diagnosis of infection and inflammation

It is not expected that each Innovation Hub addresses all of the themes but each Hub must ensure that their proposal has a clear view to impact for improving lung health.

The Hubs will form a Translational Innovation Hub Network which will be virtual, with national reach. Overall, the Network will:

• Create an ecosystem for research, development, and engagement across the academic and industry community.
• Form a basis for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics from within the Innovation Hub Network but also from external academic, industrial and SME sources.
• Significantly contribute to the generation of new knowledge and the ability to share this across the Network, to people living with CF, the public and the wider respiratory health community.
• Contribute to the development of new technologies and provide a basis for clinical testing of these technologies.