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The longitudinal microbial and metabolic landscape of infant cystic fibrosis: the gut-lung axis

In cystic fibrosis, gastrointestinal dysfunction and lower airway infection occur early and are independently associated with poorer outcomes in childhood. This study aimed to define the relationship between the microbiota at each niche during the first 2 years of life, its association with growth and airway inflammation, and explanatory features in the metabolome. 

Lung structural and functional impairments in young children with cystic fibrosis diagnosed following newborn screening – A nationwide observational study

Non-invasive and sensitive clinical endpoints are needed to monitor onset and progression of early lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). We compared lung clearance index (LCI), FEV1, functional and structural lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes in Swiss children with CF diagnosed following newborn screening. 

BEAT CF pulmonary exacerbations core protocol for evaluating the management of pulmonary exacerbations in people with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare, inherited, life-limiting condition predominantly affecting the lungs, for which there is no cure. The disease is characterized by recurrent pulmonary exacerbations (PEx), which are thought to drive progressive lung damage. Management of these episodes is complex and generally involves multiple interventions targeting different aspects of disease. The emergence of innovative trials and use of Bayesian statistical methods has created renewed opportunities for studying heterogeneous populations in rare diseases.

Professor Graham Hall

Honorary Research Associate

MetaNeb Versus Usual Care During Exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis: An RCT

During exacerbations, when symptom and treatment burden are increased, individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are likely to prefer airway clearance techniques (ACTs) that require minimal effort. Therefore, in adults with CF who were hospitalised with an exacerbation, we sought to compare the effect of the MetaNeb with usual ACTs on respiratory function and expectorated sputum.

Promising results for new Western Australian-pioneered cystic fibrosis drug

Children with cystic fibrosis will be included in the next phase of a clinical trial of a promising new treatment pioneered in Western Australia aimed at boosting their immune responses to infections. Originally developed by researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia and Perth Children’s Hospital.

Quantitative assessment of airway dimensions in young children with cystic fibrosis lung disease using chest computed tomography

To evaluate lung disease progression using AA dimensions on chest CT over 2-years in young CF patients longitudinally and compare to disease controls.

Bullying and mental health amongst Australian children and young people with cystic fibrosis

This study describes the peer bullying experiences of young people with CF, and examines associations between school bullying and the psychological well-being of these young people

CFTR-dependent defect in alternatively-activated macrophages in cystic fibrosis

CFTR-dependent imbalance of macrophage phenotypes and functions could contribute to the exaggerated inflammatory response seen in CF lung disease

An infant nasal microbial gene atlas uncovers intervention-driven microbiome shifts and salt-resistant pathogen expansion

Functional studies of how early-life interventions shape the airway microbiome remain scarce. Here, we performed metagenomic sequencing of 704 longitudinal nasal swabs from infants with and without cystic fibrosis (CF) to construct and characterize a non-redundant gene atlas of the infant nasal microbiome. We aimed to determine how the nasal microbiome is perturbed by early therapies, as CF is commonly treated with inhaled hypertonic saline to improve mucociliary clearance.