The LifeArc Chronic Respiratory Infection Translational Challenge is our new £100m programme to accelerate scientific innovation for people living with bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis.

Daniella, who is living with bronchiectasis and Angelo, who has cystic fibrosis, explain why this Translational Challenge is so important.

Collaborative partnerships to drive innovation

We’re partnering with patients, academics, charities, healthcare professionals and industry to fast-track scientific discoveries into new clinical solutions to transform how chronic infections are detected, treated and managed.

We’ll invest up to £100m by 2030 in collaborative projects to deliver new tests, treatments and technology. Our team of in-house scientists, technology transfer and other specialists will guide partners through the commercial, legal, regulatory and other issues that can sometimes prevent scientific discoveries reaching patients.

Our goal is to enable people with bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis to live longer with improved quality of life by ending the vicious cycle of infection, exacerbation, and permanent lung damage.

Our approach

Our Translational Challenge is shaped by patients and guided by experts. An independent Scientific Advisory Board provides strategic advice and direction to the project team. The Board comprises:

  • James Chalmers, Professor of Respiratory Research at the University of Dundee
  • Jane Davies, Professor of Paediatric Respirology & Experimental Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute Imperial College London working independently via Imperial Consultants
  • Professor Mark Sutton, Scientific Leader Healthcare Biotechnology at the UK Health Security Agency.
Early detection
Right diagnosis
Better treatment
New digital tools to predict exacerbations much earlier, enabling patients to receive the right treatment sooner, stay out of hospital and avoid permanent lung damage.New diagnostics to better detect and quantify infectious pathogens, improve clinical decision making and reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance and ineffective care.New therapies, including repurposed drugs, to expand the range of treatment options available to patients, whilst aiming to reduce side-effects and overall burden of care.

Funding opportunities

LifeArc, as part of the CF AMR Syndicate, is providing £3m in collaborative funding to accelerate the development of new antimicrobial treatments for people living with cystic fibrosis. Researchers in academia and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) worldwide are eligible to apply for total funding of up to £500,000 per project. Find out more by visiting the CF AMR Syndicate website.

LifeArc is committing £10m to fund up to five collaborative projects that seek to repurpose existing therapies and compounds as new treatments for bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis. The expression of interest phase has now closed. Successful applicants will be announced later in 2023.

Current projects

Early detection

LifeArc is partnering with researchers at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to fund new UK-wide trials investigating if machine learning technology can transform how people living with chronic respiratory conditions manage their health.

Right diagnosis

New lung bacteria tests

LifeArc is partnering with the University of Dundee and the European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration (EMBARC) to develop tests that quantify bacteria linked to lung flare-ups.

These tests will first be used in research studies to provide knowledge to the community, enabling clinicians to make better informed treatment decisions. We also plan to develop our tests for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTMs) as clinical monitoring tools to determine if an infection is responding to a given treatment.

Target product profiles (TPPs)

LifeArc is partnering with The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Medicines Discovery Catapult and Newcastle In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative (Newcastle-MIC) to develop target product profiles (TPPs) – a desired ‘profile’ or characteristics needed to make an effective product. The TPPs developed will help to accelerate development of new diagnostic tests for people living with cystic fibrosis.

This work will draw on the experience of the CF AMR Syndicate in developing therapeutic TPPs for cystic fibrosis infections, published this year. Developed in consultation with patients, healthcare professionals and industry, the diagnostic TPPs will identify what tests are required to deliver optimal treatment for patients. The final published TPPs will be a resource for the community, providing areas of focus for industry and highlighting key priorities for investment.

Better treatment

LifeArc has joined the Cystic Fibrosis Antimicrobial Resistance (CF AMR) Syndicate in a strategic partnership alongside The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Medicines Discovery Catapult to accelerate the development of antimicrobial diagnostics and therapies for people living with cystic fibrosis.

LifeArc is committing to £10m to fund up to five consortia projects that seek to repurpose existing therapies and compounds as new treatments for bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis.

The funding call follows an online workshop with people living with bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis and leading researchers from across the UK held in May 2022. The workshop identified a range of opportunities to repurpose existing drugs and compounds, which can be found in this report (PDF).

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