Our team has an active research programme and children are offered the opportunity to take part in research studies whenever possible.

We are part of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and work closely with colleagues in the adult cystic fibrosis team, and other centres, to improve the treatment of people with lung diseases.

Our particular interests are in the area of lung infection in cystic fibrosis and recent studies include:

a study to better characterise the complex number of different bacteria that infect the cystic fibrosis airway
a study to investigate the benefits of the early use of ciprofloxacin at times of colds to try and decrease the occurrence of infection with pseudomonas
a study to find out whether inhaled nitric oxide (NO) given at the time of acute respiratory exacerbations, increased the effectiveness of IV antibiotics in getting rid of pseudomonas infection
a study to investigate how copper might have an important role in determining how the antibiotic tobramycin attacks bacteria.

We have also been involved in a number of national studies including:

the TORPEDO study comparing IV and oral antibiotics for pseudomonas infection
studies of the new inhaled medicine mannitol to help clear secretions
the use of other new treatments, including novel molecules to switch back on faulty cystic fibrosis genes.

Future research plans include:

the development of new techniques for testing antibiotics that have the exciting potential to treat lung infections by removing the thick gloopy material that bacteria make to protect themselves inside the airways
a study to develop better ways of assessing whether pancreatic enzymes are working
exploring the use of alternative types of supplements that might be better for cystic fibrosis children.