Monitoring lung changes in CF after changing airway-clearance treatments

Regional monitoring of CF lung disease after changes in mechanical airway-clearance treatment

NIH-funded research Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11314584

This project uses advanced MRI to track whether changing or stopping daily airway-clearance routines affects lung health in people with cystic fibrosis who are on modern CFTR medicines.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cincinnati, United States)
Project IDNIH-11314584 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would get detailed lung MRI scans, including structural and hyperpolarized-gas images, to see regional changes in mucus and ventilation before and after changes to mechanical airway clearance. The team compares these sensitive imaging results over time rather than relying only on standard breathing tests. The study includes children and adults with CF who are using highly effective CFTR modulators and currently do airway clearance routines. The goal is to learn if some people can safely reduce burdensome daily airway-clearance time based on precise imaging.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with cystic fibrosis, including children and adults who are taking highly effective CFTR modulators and who currently perform mechanical airway clearance, would be the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients not on CFTR modulators, those with recent or unstable lung infections/exacerbations, or anyone unable to undergo MRI may not benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could let people with CF safely cut back on time-consuming airway-clearance routines while protecting lung health by using MRI to guide personalized care.

How similar studies have performed: Advanced and hyperpolarized-gas MRI has shown strong sensitivity to early and regional lung changes in CF, but using these scans specifically to guide changes in airway clearance is a new and emerging approach.

Where this research is happening

Cincinnati, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions CF lung disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.