Trailfinder-CF Innovation Hub

Translational Innovation Hub for Life-course Infection and Exacerbation Research

 

Trailfinder-CF-logo

In a nutshell:

The Trailfinder-CF Innovation Hub, led by Professor Jo Fothergill at the University of Liverpool, aims to develop new and more tailored treatment approaches for CF lung infections, by developing phage therapy.

What’s the problem?

Maintaining lung health throughout the life-course is a key priority for people with CF, and treatment-resistant lung infections still cause significant problems for people with CF of all ages. There is an urgent need to find new medicines to treat highly antibiotic-resistant infections, and to develop new ways to help tailor treatments to each individual and each infection, to get the most out of the treatments currently available and prevent unwanted side effects.


How is it being solved?

The Trailfinder-CF team will address two key challenge areas relevant to managing lung infections for individuals with CF. 

Workstream 1: Advancing phage therapy

For those with few options left to control their lung infections, the Trailfinder-CF team will develop “phage therapy”. This aims to use natural bacteria-killing viruses – called ‘phage’ – instead of drug-based antibiotics. They will develop new combinations of phage, test the best way of giving them, and ensure the UK can produce phage to medical standards.

Workstream 2: Optimising treatment for exacerbations

The Trailfinder-CF Innovation Hub will also use cutting edge technology to find the causes of exacerbations and test how to best use existing treatments by:

  • Developing a new way of testing lots of antibiotic combinations at the same time to know in advance which might work best for each person. 

  • Using Artificial Intelligence methods to scan medical records and help predict future treatment responses, including antibiotic resistance.

  • Investigating whether a new test which rapidly tests for over 20 bugs at the same time, can tell us which treatment is best.


How will this make a difference?

By developing phage therapy for CF in the UK, this could offer an alternative treatment option for those with highly resistant infections, help to prevent antimicrobial resistance, and improve treatment effectiveness.

Trailfinder-CF hopes to identify and develop new ways to help doctors select the best treatments that can then be tested in future trials.

  • Who's involved?

    Innovation Hub Director

    • Professor Jo Fothergill, University of Liverpool

    Innovation Hub Project Manager

    • Louise Cooper, University of Liverpool

    Co-investigators

    • Professor Paul McNamara, University of Liverpool

    • Dr Freddy Frost, University of Liverpool

    • Dr Dilip Nazareth, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

    • Professor Shampa Das, University of Liverpool

    • Dr Ed Emmott, University of Liverpool

    • Professor Aras Kadioglu, University of Liverpool

    • Professor Kieran Sharkey, University of Liverpool

    • Professor Steve Paterson, University of Liverpool

    • Dr Dan Wootton, University of Liverpool

    • Dr Rosie Maher, University of Liverpool

    • Dr Richard Fitzgerald, University of Liverpool

    • Dr Neill Liptrott, University of Liverpool

    • Professor Mike Brockhurst, University of Manchester

    • Dr Rosanna Wright, University of Manchester

    • Dr Phil Mitchelmore, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital

    • Dr Ben Temperton, University of Exeter

    • Dr Josh Jones, UK Health Security Agency

    • Professor Danish Malik, University of Loughborough

    • Dr Jamie Duckers, Llandough Hospital

    • Professor Eshwar Mahenthiralingam, Cardiff University

    • Dr Clare Trippett, Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)

    • Dr Jenny Preston, University of Liverpool

    • Professor Mark Sutton, UK Health Security Agency

    • Professor Martha Clokie, University of Leicester

    • Dr Andrew Millard, University of Leicester

    • Dr Ailsa Dermody (person with CF)

    • Professor Christian Hedrich, University of Liverpool

    • Professor Barry Campbell, University of Liverpool

  • Updates

    Check back here for future updates on the Trailfinder-CF programme.

  • Resources and links

    You can keep up to date with the Trailfinder-CF team on the following social media channels:

    • Bluesky: @cf-trailfinder.bsky.social

    • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cf-trailfinder 

    • Instagram: @cf_trailfinder

    Or on their website: www.liverpool.ac.uk/trailfinder-cf

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