Pioneering Project Reaches Milestone in Fight Against Rare Lung Diseases
The FIBRALUNG PROJECT, launched in 2021, has achieved a significant milestone: the collection of 1,000 biological samples from patients with rare but impactful lung diseases in Portugal, particularly in the north. This national first aims to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical practice, ultimately improving the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions.
“Diffuse pulmonary diseases are silent in their early stages, but can progress to become serious, disabling, and even fatal,” explains Dr. Helder Novais and Bastos, Fibralung coordinator and physician at ULS de S. João. “Earlier diagnosis requires a deeper understanding of how these diseases develop and progress.”
The project is a collaborative effort involving the Pulmonology Service at ULS S. João, the University of Porto School of Medicine, and the I3S, bringing together doctors, nurses, technicians, and researchers. With patient consent, biological samples - including blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and pulmonary biopsies – are cryopreserved in a dedicated biobank. This “biological treasure,” as Dr. Novais and Bastos calls it, allows for the study of cellular and molecular changes, potentially revealing patterns and biomarkers for improved detection.
A multidisciplinary clinical approach is central to the project, encompassing pneumology for patient evaluation, radiology for identifying imaging patterns, and pathological anatomy for tissue and molecular analysis. Genetics,rheumatology,and immunology also play crucial roles.
“Reaching a thousand samples represents a unique and already significant biological database for the country,” states the coordinator, with plans to integrate this resource into international research networks. The project receives support from the Foundation for Science and Technology and other scientific funding bodies.
Beyond known risk factors like smoking, pollution, and exposure to dust and gases, housing conditions are a major contributor to the advancement and worsening of diffuse pulmonary diseases.”North Portugal experiences particularly high rates of these pathologies, largely due to the humid climate and inadequate housing,” notes João Rufo, a researcher at the University of Porto Public Health institute.
By Maria João Garcia
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