Breath tests to spot Staphylococcus aureus lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients
Official title: Developing breath biomarkers of S. aureus cystic fibrosis lung infections through the secondary analysis of IMPACT-Breath clinical study data
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11293980 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A non-invasive breath test study aims to detect S. aureus lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis using existing data and breath analysis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | May 25, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $233,854 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HL184214-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11293980 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
CF patients who participated in the IMPACT-Breath study and have breath and clinical data available.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without CF or those not represented in the IMPACT-Breath dataset may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project reuses data from the IMPACT-Breath study to find breath-based markers that indicate S. aureus lung infection in CF patients. Researchers will apply machine learning to breath volatile compounds and clinical information to build models that distinguish Sa+ from Sa− samples. The study focuses on improving non-invasive diagnosis as sputum production declines with modern CF therapies. Results could lead to a simple breath test that helps doctors detect infections earlier and tailor treatments. The work will be conducted using secondary data analysis and statistical methods on existing samples and records.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from a quick, non-invasive test to detect lung infections and guide antibiotic decisions without needing sputum.
How similar studies have gone: Previous breath-based biomarker studies show promise, but this project relies on secondary analysis to extend those findings to S. aureus detection in CF.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bean, Heather Denise — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Bean, Heather Denise
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.