Under the umbrella of the eurIPFnet consortium, leading European basic and clinical scientists in the field of interstitial lung diseases have associated to jointly decipher the natural course and molecular pathomechanisms and to develop new therapeutic strategies for patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). This devastating disease affects approximately 360.000 patients in the EU and causes a substantial socioeconomic burden. IPF patients experience a progressive dyspnoe due to loss of regularly structured alveolar units and concomitant scarring of the lung. Quality of life gradually decreases and patients usually die within 3-5 years after diagnosis. Currently there is no approved treatment available.

Our translational research programme includes implementation of a European IPF registry (eurIPFreg), which is open to all clinical experts in the EU and in which valuable, reviewed and centrally approved data with regard to natural course, familiar background and susceptibility factors of IPF are collected. Furthermore, setup of a European IPF biobank (eurIPFbank), in which blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, cells and tissue specimen of IPF subjects are collected and kept in trust, is included. In these samples, we perform transcriptome, proteome, phosphoproteome and lipidome analysis, cellular studies and genetic analysis to unravel the molecular pathways underlying IPF and to identify and establish new diagnostic and prognostic markers. Candidate gene verification is performed in cell culture and animal studies, including siRNA and gene transfection technologies and development of genetically altered mice. This will result in the development of new animal models of IPF. Identification of new therapeutic targets in these models will be followed by rapid commercial exploitation and early preclinical and early clinical evaluation, for which a clinical trial coordination center will define future standards in view of patient identification, screening and approval. Ultimately, we wish to establish a unique, sustainable and internationally unrivalled European infrastructure for investigation and treatment of IPF.

Our mission statement is straight-forward and clear:

              Fighting for improved survival in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis