A cell therapy approach based on transplanting a type of lung cells called type II alveolar cells halted scarring in a rat model of IPF. Click here to learn more.

What do you think of these findings?

People with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who receive a single lung transplant have a higher risk of developing lung cancer, a study found. Click here to learn more.

What do you think of these findings?

IPF patients taking antifibrotic therapies Ofev or Esbriet had a 37% lower mortality risk than those not treated, a registry-based study says. Read more here.

What do you think of these findings?

Long-term survival appears to be similar between bilateral and single lung transplants in IPF patients, a review study shows. Click here to read more.

What do you think of these findings?

Orphan drug status gives incentives to companies to support development of treatments, like AMP945 by Amplia Therapeutics, for rare diseases. Click here to learn more.

What are your thoughts on orphan drugs?

A case report supports using Ofev as monotherapy for IPF patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer who cannot tolerate chemotherapy.  Click here to read more about it.

What do you think of these findings?

A real-world, multi-center study in Poland confirms the effectiveness of two-year treatment with Esbriet (pirfenidone) for IPF patients. Read more about it here.

What do you think of this news?

The FDA and Health Canada extended use of Ofev, as twice daily capsule, for interstitial lung diseases with chronic worsening of fibrosis. Read more about it here.

What do you think of these findings?

Poorer survival was seen in chronic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia patients hospitalized repeatedly for acute flares and infections. Click here to learn more.

What do you think of these findings?

Lung CT scans might help predict the mortality risk in IPF patients better than the decline in forced vital capacity, a study shows. Read more here.

What do you think of these findings?

The NIH-led research network hopes for 5,000 responses to its online survey of how people with rare diseases in the US are being affected by the pandemic. Click here to learn more.

How has the global pandemic affected you so far?

Click here to read NORD’s call to action for rare disease patients on financial and legislative issues in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Which of these issues is most important to you and why?

Avalyn raised $35.5 million to support clinical studies of APO1, aerosolized pirfenidone, to treat IPF and chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Click here to read more.

What do you think of this news?

A study has linked mechanical ventilation to higher mortality rates in IPF patients previously treated with high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. Read more about these findings here.

What do you think of this news?

Chronic lung infections are particularly risky for IPF patients with low oxygen pressure in the blood or high levels of the biomarker KL-6. Read more about this topic here.

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GED-0507 was seen in mice with induced pulmonary fibrosis to have benefits equal to, or greater than, two approved anti-fibrotic therapies. Read more about these findings here.

What do you think of this news?

A survey of 509 doctors in 66 countries found variations in approach given acute IPF exacerbations, reflecting a lack of clear guidelines. Read the full story here.

What do you think of this news?

According to a study, people with IPF live a much shorter time after an acute exacerbation than those with other interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Read more about these findings here.

What do you think of this news?

Surgeons in Japan were able to transplant a donated left lung into the right-side lung cavity of an IPF patient, a case study reports. Read the full story here.

What do you think of this news?

You can enter into a raffle for a chance to have your song performed on stage at NORD’s patient and family forum welcome reception. Click here find out more.

Will you be entering this contest?

Click here to read an article about how pandemic protocols are giving the rest of the world a glimpse into everyday life for people with PF and other chronic illnesses.

In what ways is this episode of social distancing different from or the same as other times you’ve socially isolated yourself in the past?

Jeffrey Goldstein, a person with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, leads the Lung Transplant Foundation’s efforts to fund research and help patients. Read about his efforts here.

Which research projects are you most excited about?

A comparison of lung and trachea models used to understand or treat diseases like pulmonary fibrosis found engineered ones most realistic. Read more here.

Did you find this information to be helpful?

As a young adult living with a chronic lung disease, Charlene Marshall has met several other patients navigating life with both an interstitial lung disease (like IPF) or heart-related issues. About two-and-a-half years into her own IPF diagnosis, Charlene was noted to experience cardiac issues as well, leading to a diagnosis of… Read more

Since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) nearly four years ago, Charlene Marshall’s anxiety has worsened. She feels it especially prevalent right now as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is rapidly making its way around the globe, and health projections say many people will be infected. Zooming in on our mental health… Read more

As a patient living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) for nearly four years, Charlene Marshall hopes that the research being conducted around the world not only helps find a cure for this disease, but helps new treatments emerge that will improve patients quality of life. Understanding gene variants and their role in… Read more

One of the difficulties of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), among many other things, is how the disease manifests itself so differently among patients. One of the difficulties of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), among many other things, is how the disease manifests itself so differently among patients.

This can lead to delayed diagnosis’ or… Read more

Like most patients living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and thus, a compromised immune system, Charlene Marshall can’t help but worry about the rapid spread for COVID-19. Knowing the risks associated with contracting the virus as a patient with decreased respiratory function is worrisome, but similar to Christie Patient (author of this… Read more

As a trained family therapist, Charlene Marshall knows the importance of acknowledging the hard topics when trying to process difficult life events or situations. This includes a diagnosis of a fatal pulmonary disease, like IPF. Unfortunately, this progressive lung disease has forced Charlene to think about the things she will likely miss… Read more

Research continues to emerge from around the world to help patients, researchers and physicians better understand idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Since there is currently no cure for this progressive lung disease, understanding factors that may contribute to poorer patient outcomes is imperative in helping patients live a… Read more

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Senior Director of Multichannel Content, Michael Morale, discusses how a PF Foundation survey found that the vast majority of Americans are unfamiliar with PF symptoms.

Are you interested in learning more about Pulmonary Fibrosis? If so, please visit: pulmonaryfibrosisnews.com

What are your thoughts about… Read more

Many patients living with IPF fear an acute exacerbation, and for good reason. Recovering from such an event is very difficult, as Charlene Marshall is experiencing daily right now. Sometimes the mental anguish of a chronic illness is just as daunting as the physical, but Charlene is trying hard to work through her recovery by negotiating… Read more

Charlene Marshall never expected to be an advocate for any type of rare disease, especially one that she has. However, following her own diagnosis of IPF nearly four years ago, Charlene knew she had two choices. She could live miserably and be angry at the fact that she was diagnosed with a life-threatening lung disease, or she could… Read more

A popular discussion topic among the Pulmonary Fibrosis News Forums is how to manage the side effects associated with either one of the two FDA-approved anti-fibrotic therapies for IPF. It appears from the article cited within this flash briefing, that concerns with side effect management can be prohibitive to patients and physicians… Read more

Similar to the author of this column, Charlene Marshall values communication with others, and knows that words are how we all convey thoughts and ideas. Unfortunately since Charlene’s diagnosis of IPF, a cruel and life-threatening lung disease, communication with others hasn’t been as easy as it was before she got sick. Irritability,… Read more

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columnist and Forum Moderator Charlene Marshall reads an article formulated from a study focused on assessing the severity and progression of IPF based on chest scans.

Before being diagnosed with IPF nearly four years ago, Charlene Marshall remembers the process of all the diagnostic testing used to help physicians… Read more

When diagnosed with IPF four years ago, Charlene Marshall regularly questioned what exposures she may have had that led to the development of IPF. To her knowledge, she was never exposed to anything of concern, but knows that exposure to bacteria from external or environmental factors is often out of our control, so she’s left to ponder the… Read more

After being diagnosed with IPF nearly four years ago, Charlene Marshall regularly questioned what exposures she may have had that led to the development of IPF. To her knowledge, she was never exposed to anything of concern, but knows that exposure to bacteria from external or environmental factors is often out of… Read more

https://soundcloud.com/pulmonaryfibrosisnews/caregivers-need-care-too

Charlene Marshall has often said that while she wishes IPF never came into her life, she’s glad to be the patient instead of the caregiver. This is only because Charlene couldn’t imagine the physical stress and emotional toll the role of caregiving has on loved ones.… Read more

For Charlene Marshall, a major takeaway from attending the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) Summit in Texas last fall, was how much research is being conducted for those living with IPF. Some of the most fascinating research is investigating how medications that have been on the market for a number of years to help other disease, may… Read more

After an intense few months of acute illnesses, Charlene Marshall has begun the long road to recovery. From her initial hospital admission (and subsequent ones since then!), to recovering comfortably at home and having all of her needs met, Charlene knows she couldn’t have survived this alone. 

Similar to the proverb, “it takes a… Read more

Charlene Marshall shares a recent news article about the Pulmonary Wellness Foundation (PWF) and their commitment to making online rehabilitation programs free for patients with rare lung diseases.

PWF belongs to cardiopulmonary physical therapist Noah Greenspan, and is not only an innovative way to remove cost-prohibitive barriers… Read more

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columnist and Forum Moderator Charlene Marshall reads from a column she wrote on fearing the development of the IPF cough. She also talks about the terrifying effects of coughing regularly and how it can be exhausting both mentally and physically.

Are you interested in learning more about Pulmonary Fibrosis?… Read more

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columnist and Forum Moderator Charlene Marshall summarizes a 2019 meta-analysis study, investigating the relationship between viral infections and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). 

It is not uncommon for patients living with IPF to socially isolate themselves from others who are sick during cold and… Read more

Do you ever hear a statistic or a report on an illness that makes your skin crawl? For Charlene Marshall, that is hearing that IPF doesn’t affect young adults. Charlene was diagnosed with IPF at 28 years old and while learning to live with this fatal lung disease, she has noticed that the unique support needs of young adults is often… Read more

Charlene Marshall discusses a new study outlining the link between sleep and Pulmonary Fibrosis. The study suggests that circadian rhythms can become dysregulated in the lungs of those with PF, enabling the study to further investigate the relationship between too much or too little sleep as risk factors for this fibrotic lung… Read more

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columnist and Forum Moderator Charlene Marshall discusses the various technologies that can assist patients living with a chronic illness, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). While technological devices should never be a subsitute for medical advice, including them in your day-to-day life with IPF can… Read more

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columnist and Forum Moderator Charlene Marshall shares an article discussing the use of a lab model replicating the main steps leading to progressive fibrosis. The investigators and researchers hope this will help them assess the properties of therapeutic candidates to help stop of reverse progressive fibrosis,… Read more

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columnist and Forum Moderator Charlene Marshall discusses the importance of talking to others about cold and flu season as patients living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Most patients with IPF are considered immunocompromised, which means they are highly susceptible to catching viruses and… Read more

Pulmonary Fibrosis News Columnist and Forum Moderator Charlene Marshall discusses the financial implications of living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as a young adult. Unsurprisingly, Charlene has had to shift some of her financial priorities since being diagnosed with this fatal lung disease, and often worries about being able… Read more