Working with the University of Oxford on Breathlessness Research Study

The University of Oxford, supported by our Pulmonary Rehabilitation service, is carrying out research into breathlessness. We are performing a study to help understand how the brain processes breathlessness. Breathlessness ... Read more

The University of Oxford, supported by our Pulmonary Rehabilitation service, is carrying out research into breathlessness. We are performing a study to help understand how the brain processes breathlessness. Breathlessness debilitates millions of people, yet it is poorly understood and treatment is difficult. The purpose of this study is to help understand how people perceive breathlessness with the ultimate aim of improving treatments for this symptom.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a well-established treatment for breathlessness in chronic lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation consists of a 6-week course of exercise and education sessions with a group of other breathless patients, usually in a hospital setting. Although pulmonary rehabilitation improves breathlessness, it is not associated with any improvements in lung function. We therefore believe that the beneficial effects of pulmonary rehabilitation may be due to changes in the way the brain perceives breathlessness.

By understanding the way the brain perceives breathlessness, we hope to be able to inform the design of new treatments, which will help, relieve the suffering of countless patients with breathlessness.

If you are interested in finding out more and participating in the study you should contact Dr Mari Herigstad or Dr. Kyle Pattinson or for further information. You can contact Dr Herigstad by email: mari.herigstad@nda.ox.ac.uk or by telephone 07787 394 170. You can contact Dr Pattinson via email kyle.pattinson@nda.ox.ac.uk or by telephone 01865 231 509.

Alternatively you can find out more about the study via https://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/~kylep/index2.html

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Published: 30 July 2012