From research to treatment

Research takes time

Before a treatment becomes available for people with a lung disease, a long journey of often more than ten years has taken place. Scientific research is conducted with great care, step by step. After each step, it may become clear that an assumption does not hold true or that a potential treatment is not safe. Once a research proposal has been approved, the research can begin in the laboratory. The phases that follow each require additional time. Longfonds closely monitors the progress of researchers because we want to minimise the time between the different stages of research and ensure that promising results can be further developed as quickly as possible.

Fundamental research

Gaining a better understanding of how the body works and how lung diseases develop is essential. This takes place through fundamental research. Although the results do not immediately lead to treatments, they provide new knowledge that may eventually contribute to the development of new therapies. Fundamental research is an essential first step and takes place in the laboratory. It can involve human material, such as blood or tissue, or animal studies. Longfonds aims to move towards animal-free research, but currently there is not always a suitable alternative to animal models.

Examples:

• Getting immune cells in the lungs back to work
• Crossed wires: what goes wrong in emphysema?

Duration: 4–8 years

Translational research

Discoveries from fundamental research are translated into applications for clinical practice. The bridge between the laboratory and the patient is built through translational research. This may involve treatments or new ways to detect lung diseases. Successful translational research often requires collaboration between different research fields. Longfonds considers it important to support research in this phase, as it helps ensure that new knowledge about lung diseases can ultimately reach patients.

Examples:

• Support Dr Simons with your voice
• Stop the RS virus (in the nose)

Duration: 3–5 years

Clinical research

The final stage of research focuses on new treatments, existing treatments used for a different purpose, or ways to prevent disease. New treatments may also be compared with existing treatments. All of this takes place during clinical research.

By supporting clinical research, Longfonds helps bring new treatments to patients and improve existing treatments. The results help healthcare professionals, policymakers and patients make informed decisions about the most appropriate treatment options. Longfonds therefore supports clinical research to improve the health of people with lung diseases.

Clinical research consists of four phases:

• Phase 1

  A treatment or medicine is tested in healthy volunteers. Researchers assess whether it is safe and monitor any side effects that may occur.

• Phase 2

  The treatment is tested in a small group of patients to determine whether it works as intended. Researchers continue to closely monitor its safety and any potential side effects.

• Phase 3

  The treatment is tested in a large group of patients over a longer period of time. Its effectiveness and safety are evaluated, and the treatment is compared with another treatment or a placebo. If the results are positive, the treatment or medicine may be approved for the market.

• Phase 4

  After approval of the treatment, it continues to be monitored to identify rare side effects and assess long-term effects. The use of the treatment in combination with other medicines is also studied.

Clinical research often involves healthy volunteers or people with lung disease. Participants are needed for these studies. For clinical studies supported by Longfonds, participants are regularly recruited. If you want to participate in a research study (in Dutch), registration usually takes place through your own hospital.

Examples:

• ‘More people can benefit from personalised treatment’ (in Dutch)
• Gezondere longen voor te vroeg geborenen (in Dutch)

Duration: 5–8 years