Surgically Correctable Congenital Malformations Affecting Lung Growth

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Surgically Correctable Congenital Malformations Affecting Lung Growth

  • IRAS ID

    355159

  • Contact name

    Adam Lawton

  • Contact email

    adamjslawton@gmail.com

  • Sponsor organisation

    King's College London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    This research project will investigate how certain birth defects affecting the chest or abdomen impact children's breathing and exercise ability later in their childhood. Understanding these long-term effects will help families make informed decisions about their medical care, and will help medical professionals better understand these conditions and what support these children might need.

    Participants will be children and young people who previously received medical care for specific birth defects at the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital, between 2000 and 2024. The specific conditions being investigated are; congenital lung malformations, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), fetal pleural effusions, gastroschisis, and omphalocele.

    The study will take place at King's College Hospital, London. Participants will attend a single four-hour visit where they will undergo various lung function tests, complete questionnaires about any problems with breathing and how they impact on their quality of life, and participate in exercise tests. Participants and their parents/carers will also be interviewed to understand their unique perspectives on what matters most to them in terms of any breathing problems that might be related to their birth defect. Finally, we will use the postcode of participants to understand how factors like air quality and socioeconomic deprivation might influence lung health.

  • REC name

    South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/SC/0340

  • Date of REC Opinion

    7 Nov 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion