Human ex vivo lung perfusion research consortium UK (HELP RCUK)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Use of cadaveric human lungs from the UK by the ex-vivo lung perfusion research consortium
IRAS ID
132926
Contact name
Cecilia O'Kane
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
In lung research, animal models have been developed for most of the common human lung disorders. While these have proved invaluable in improving the mechanistic understanding and testing potential treatment modalities for human lung disorders, all animal models have inherent limitations. Thus, translation of animal data to humans is challenging and frequently disappointing, resulting in a lack of novel drugs to treat lung disease progressing to clinical application. The development and application of ex vivo human lung models could offer a new way to testing therapies and improving our understanding of how the human lung works in health and disease. To this end, we are applying to use lungs from patients who have died in hospital that are turned down for transplantation. We would initially collect lungs from hospitals near the centres doing EVLP in Belfast and London that have the appropriate Human Tissue Authority (HTA) license to enable removal of organs and tissues for research. Consent to use the lungs for research will be taken from the next of kin by Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation (SNODs) and the lungs will be removed by trainee transplant or cardiothoracic surgeons to minimise trauma to the next of kin and so that other transplantable organs are not jeopardised.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0250
Date of REC Opinion
5 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion