Tracking recovery from severe lung flare-ups in people with cystic fibrosis
Follows people with cystic fibrosis through treatment and recovery from severe lung flare-ups.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Understanding Inflammation, InFection and Interventions in Severe Exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis
Key facts
- Where
- Cardiff, Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomSee the 6 sites
Where in United Kingdom
- Cardiff and Vale University Health BoardCardiff, United KingdomNot yet recruiting
- Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)Exeter, United KingdomNot yet recruiting
- Leeds Adult CF CentreLeeds, United KingdomNot yet recruiting
- Liverpool Heart & Chest HospitalLiverpool, United KingdomNot yet recruiting
- Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis CentreManchester, United KingdomTaking people
- Newcastle Adult CF CentreNewcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomNot yet recruiting
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Alexander Horsley
- Trial code
- NCT07484607
- Record updated
- 24 March 2026
- Original description
The UNIFIED-CF study is an observational study designed to investigate the impacts of treatment given for severe pulmonary exacerbations in people living with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Exacerbations are episodes when pwCF become more unwell, typically characterised by increased cough, sputum, and breathlessness and treated with a combination of oral and/or intravenous antibiotics. Severe exacerbations require treatment with intravenous antibiotics and impart considerable morbidity on pwCF.Read full original descriptionShow less
Understanding Inflammation, InFection and Interventions in Severe Exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis
The UNIFIED-CF study is an observational study designed to investigate the impacts of treatment given for severe pulmonary exacerbations in people living with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Exacerbations are episodes when pwCF become more unwell, typically characterised by increased cough, sputum, and breathlessness and treated with a combination of oral and/or intravenous antibiotics. Severe exacerbations require treatment with intravenous antibiotics and impart considerable morbidity on pwCF.
In this study, the investigators will recruit people at risk of severe CF exacerbations when they are well and if/when they are subsequently admitted for treatment of an exacerbation, the investigators will track symptoms and lung function during recovery, and collect blood, sputum and stool samples to allow us to explore the biological mechanisms of exacerbations and how they relate to different treatment responses.
The study is event driven and will complete recruitment once 125 participants have completed treatment and follow-up for a severe exacerbation event.
This study is funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. This study is part of a wider programme of research, led by the PULSE-CF Innovation Hub (and hosted by the University of Manchester). The aim of the Hub is that the data from the UNIFIED-CF study will ultimately support the design of a platform clinical trial to test exacerbation-prevention interventions in CF.
Inclusion: Confirmed diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF), defined as presence of two pathogenic CF-causing CFTR mutations AND clinical features consistent with a diagnosis of CF, OR presence of at least one pathogenic CF-causing CFTR mutation AND sweat chloride (before use of CFTR modulators) >60mmol/L AND clinical features consistent with a diagnosis of CF; Receiving care from a UK Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre taking part in the study; EITHER:; Have had at least 1 previous exacerbation of CF lung disease, treated with intravenous antibiotics, in the previous 12 months; OR; Enrolled in the CF-Tracker study (IRAS ID 338539) within the last 24 months (dated from date of completion of baseline Tracker visit); In case of treatment for an exacerbation, likely to be treated with a ß-lactam or an anti-pseudomonal penicillin, combined with tobramycin or colistin, per CF Trust and NICE guidelines for 1st-line CF therapies; Able to produce sputum (spontaneous or induced) at baseline visit; Able to understand the patient information sheet, willing to consent to study protocol.
Exclusion: When attending for the baseline visit participants should be clinically stable at the time of the visit. This is defined as no acute change in their baseline symptoms or presence of new viral symptoms. They should not be on additional antibiotics or anti-viral therapies for any reason (above their usual medications), and should have completed any such additional therapies at least 4 weeks prior; Extensive antibiotic allergies or intolerances that mean they could not be treated with standard CF antibiotic regimens, as outlined in section 5.6; Subjects with active ABPA, defined as receiving treatment for ABPA currently or within the last 4 months, or those considered at risk of requiring treatment for ABPA in the next 12 months; Subjects receiving long term oral steroids at an equivalent dose of 10mg or more per day of prednisolone; Subjects receiving any other form of long term immune-suppressant therapy; Subjects with infection with Mycobacteria tuberculosis; Subjects with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection who are undergoing active eradication therapy. Subjects with chronic NTM infection who are not on eradication therapy, and not expecting to start this within the next 12 months, are not excluded; Any other condition, co-morbidity or other feature that, in the opinion of the investigator would render the subject unable to complete the protocol or unsuitable for inclusion; Planning on participating in a clinical trial of a novel experimental investigational medical product in the next 12 months.