Teddington

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease that causes scarring, leading to coughing and breathlessness. Many people with IPF also have reflux disease, where stomach acid may enter the lungs and cause damage. This research is evaluating whether using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), medicines that reduce stomach acid like lansoprazole, can slow the progression of IPF. The study is a phase 3 clinical trial involving 298 IPF patients from about 37 UK hospitals to determine if treating with PPIs affects IPF outcomes and cough, reflux, and sleep symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either lansoprazole 30 mg capsules or matching placebo capsules twice daily, about 12 hours apart, for 12 months. They will be asked to start weekly home breathing tests using equipment provided, and some with a cough will use a device to count coughs over 24 hours. Questionnaires on cough, breathlessness, sleep, and general health will be completed. A sub-study involves additional cough and sleep monitoring sessions. Participants may reduce the dose if side effects occur. Throughout the study, participants will complete home spirometry assessments weekly, provide blood samples for safety checks at set intervals, and answer questionnaires at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Visits may be remote or in person. Researchers will monitor medication adherence, medical history changes, and side effects. The main outcome measured is the change in lung function, specifically forced vital capacity, 12 months after randomization. Additional blood samples may be collected for future research with consent.

Researchers are investigating the impact of a 12-week online peer support program designed specifically for family caregivers of individuals with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) who are at risk of becoming or currently technology-dependent. Caregivers in this role face significant psychological distress due to the progressive and debilitating nature of MND and the complexities of managing assistive technology. The study aims to determine how this virtual support affects caregivers' psychological health and burden, with a focus on reducing anxiety and depression. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive access to the online peer support program or continue with usual care. The program includes private messaging through audio, video, or text, weekly live chats, asynchronous discussion forums, and access to informational resources. The intervention lasts for 12 weeks, during which caregivers can connect with peers who share similar experiences and challenges. During the study, researchers will collect data on caregiver demographics, caregiving impact, psychological wellbeing using tools like the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and program usage. Usability and acceptability of the program will be assessed through interviews and monitoring of participant engagement. The main outcomes measured are changes in anxiety and depression at 6 and 12 weeks. The study plans to enroll 154 participants to ensure sufficient data despite expected dropout, ultimately providing insight into how online peer support may benefit caregivers nationally and internationally.