Author Archives: Patricia Inacio PhD

More than 100,000 fewer hospital appointments were logged by people with lung diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in England between March 2020 and 2021, relative to the average annual number of such appointments — which the Taskforce for Lung Health attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain…

Ahead of this year’s Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill, held virtually July 14–22, the EveryLife Foundation will award grants to top advocates of rare disease organizations who participate in the week’s pre-events. The top 50 point-earners will be eligible to win $1,000 to $5,000in  grants, totaling up…

As part of the worldwide commemoration of Clinical Trials Day, held each year on May 20, the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is urging people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) to join ongoing clinical studies. In its call for participants, the PFF highlighted how patient involvement is the “most important…

People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who live in poorer neighborhoods are less likely to receive a lung transplant and have a higher mortality risk, a U.S. single-center study reports. The study’s lead researcher said she was surprised the findings of “neighborhood-level disadvantage” reached significance given the relatively…

SAN903, a candidate therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), led to a significant reduction in markers of inflammation and fibrosis (scarring) in a mouse model of induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF), its developer, Saniona, reported. The treatment’s ability to lessen tissue scarring also outperformed that of Esbriet (pirfenidone),…

More than half of the people with rare diseases and their caregivers, asked in a survey, were undecided or less than willing to be vaccinated for COVID-19 if a vaccine was approved under emergency use authorization instead of the routine process, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Disease reports. These findings…

The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases is accepting applications for a scholarship program that aims to help adults with a rare disease pursue personal goals through training and education. For a second year, the #RAREis Scholarship Fund — supported by Horizon Therapeutics – will award 35 one-time scholarships, each…

At-home evaluation of lung function using a spirometry device is a “feasible and valid measure” for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who have preserved lung function, clinical trial data show. However, further study is needed to evaluate the utility of at-home evaluations, since correlations between changes seen at…

During 2020, Pulmonary Fibrosis News held to its mission of providing daily coverage of breakthrough discoveries, promising therapies, clinical trials, and other news related to pulmonary fibrosis (PF). As we look forward to continuing to bring news and relevant information to patients, family members, and caregivers dealing with PF…

Procalcitonin, a precursor of the calcitonin hormone, may be used as a potential biomarker of lung cancer developing in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a recent study suggests. Compared with patients with IPF alone, procalcitonin was significantly higher in IPF patients who also had lung…