The SPIT-D Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A pilot study to characterise saliva and sputum FTIR spectral profiles in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), during exacerbations and when stable (development).

• IRAS ID

  265632

• Contact name

  Anoop Chauhan

• Contact email

  anoop.chauhan@porthosp.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 11 months, 23 days

• Research summary

  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long term lung disease usually caused by damage to the lungs by tobacco smoke and includes conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. There are millions of people in the UK with COPD and they are often short of breath and may struggle to exercise. Often this is associated with a cough and bringing up sputum (mucus) and people with COPD are more likely to get chest infections due to build-up of this mucus and damage to the breathing tubes within the lungs, known as airways. Many patients with COPD also have frequent episodes where they become unwell known as ‘flare ups’ or ‘exacerbations’ and this further adds to the lung damage as well as the cost burden to the NHS.
  This study uses a technique called Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, which is an emerging field of analysis we would like to investigate further. An FTIR ‘machine’ or ‘spectroscope’ passes infrared light through a substance and produces a particular profile (or ‘shape’) for that substance. In this study we would like to analyse saliva and sputum with an FTIR spectroscope to produce profiles to get to know them better in different circumstances. We will analyse saliva and sputum from participants with COPD when they are experiencing a flare up of their disease, and when they are well again and compare these profiles. We are also interested in other factors which may affect these profiles, such as any medications that are being taken, the severity of their COPD and if someone is currently smoking.

• REC name

  London - Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  19/LO/1197

• Date of REC Opinion

  8 Aug 2019

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion