Exciting research is happening right now that could help thousands of children around the world with cystic fibrosis (CF).
A group of scientists and researchers in Australia are determined to “AREST” CF before it continues to impair the lives of the more than 70,000 people worldwide who suffer from this progressive lung disease.
AREST CF stands for Australian Respiratory Early Surveillance Team for Cystic Fibrosis. According to Newsgate.com, which cites a recent article in Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, more than 50 doctors, researchers, research managers and students are collaborating to find new and innovative ways to understand CF and create meaningful therapies.
The AREST CF team is a collaboration of more than 60 doctors, researchers, scientists, research management and students dedicated to the improvement of respiratory health and outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis. AREST was founded by Perth respiratory paediatrician and cystic fibrosis (CF) researcher Professor Stephen Stick. (Stick was the recent recipient of the Richard C. Talamo Distinguished Clinical Achievement Award from the US Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.)
Focusing on Today… and Tomorrows
The AREST program focuses on the assessment, treatment, and prevention of cystic fibrosis lung disease in young children. But these scientists have been doing more than simply studying their young patients.
Since the late 1990s, AREST has biobanked their CF research and clinical specimens. Today, they house the most comprehensive pediatric CF collection of biologic samples (including blood and bronchoalveolar lavage samples) in the world. The organization hopes to bring about collaboration with CF researchers, clinicians, and scientists around the world.
In July, AREST published a comprehensive report on their biobank in the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, stating,
“AREST CF envisions that offering every child born with CF a clinical trial aimed at preventing progressive lung damage in conjunction with routine biobanking would help accelerate CF therapeutic development.”
