Understanding Inflammation, InFection and Interventions in Severe Exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Exacerbation

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07484607

Run by

Alexander Horsley

People needed

200

Starts

2025-10-09

Expected to finish

2029-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-24

Who can join

Age: 16 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 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.

You may not qualify if…

• 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 infection with Mycobacteria tuberculosis
• 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 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.

Where it is running

• Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre — Manchester, United Kingdom (enrolling)
• Cardiff and Vale University Health Board — Cardiff, United Kingdom
• Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford) — Exeter, United Kingdom
• Leeds Adult CF Centre — Leeds, United Kingdom
• Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital — Liverpool, United Kingdom
• Newcastle Adult CF Centre — Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.