New Oxford University project pioneers new breathing test to detect lung disease earlier

A new project by Oxford University could make it easier to detect lung diseases like asthma and COPD earlier.

It's as researchers are working to develop a breathing test which can be used in GP surgeries and pharmacies, thanks to one point three million pounds in funding.

They say earlier diagnosis will mean quicker treatment and better outcomes, especially for those most at risk.

Project lead Professor Grant Ritchie (Department of Chemistry) said: ‘To improve lung health, we need to move from fire-fighting advanced disease to detecting and treating it earlier, when it is still possible to prevent progression. With EPSRC support, we are developing a rapid, non-invasive breath test that could provide immediate results in community diagnostic settings and transform early diagnosis.’

Professor Charlotte Deane, EPSRC Executive Chair, and a Professor in Oxford University’s Department of Statistics, said: ‘Diagnosing health conditions early and in a way that works for people’s everyday lives is vital…By enabling care closer to home as well as earlier intervention, these projects will help shift the system from treatment to prevention, improve outcomes, tackle health inequalities, and ease pressure on hospitals.’