New Diagnostic Approaches in the Management of Inflammatory Lung Diseases

Overview

Inflammatory lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Their development and progression are influenced by environmental exposures, such as cigarette smoking and air pollution, as well as genetic susceptibility. Despite advances in disease management, early diagnosis, accurate differential diagnosis, personalized treatment, and continuous monitoring remain significant clinical challenges. This project aims to improve the management of inflammatory lung diseases through the development and validation of innovative diagnostic, monitoring, and therapeutic approaches. The study will identify and validate multi-omics biomarkers for the differential diagnosis and prognosis of COPD, IPF, and related respiratory diseases, using machine learning techniques to develop diagnostic and prognostic biochips. Environmental determinants, including indoor and outdoor exposome factors, will be assessed to better understand their contribution to pulmonary inflammation and disease progression. The project will also develop nanotechnology-based therapeutic formulations combined with precision inhalation devices and integrate a telemedicine platform for real-time monitoring of clinical and environmental data, enabling the early detection of exacerbations and supporting personalized disease management. The expected outcomes include improved diagnostic accuracy, enhanced risk stratification, personalized therapeutic strategies, reduced disease exacerbations, and improved quality of life for patients with inflammatory lung diseases.

The study adopts a prospective cohort design involving patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), within which a nested, non-randomized interventional substudy on telemedicine monitoring of COPD patients is conducted. This approach combines the investigation of novel molecular, immunological, and genetic/epigenetic biomarkers for personalized medicine with a pragmatic evaluation of a telemonitoring intervention under real-world clinical practice conditions in COPD patients at high risk of exacerbation. The intervention includes home use of the MAIA telemonitoring platform, the FIRST oscillometry device (Restech), based on the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) for the assessment of respiratory mechanics, a smart inhaler (Plastiape RS01X) provided by the industrial partner Delim for monitoring adherence to inhaled therapy, and XearPro environmental sensors, supplied by XEarPro S.r.l., for the detection of atmospheric pollutants. Participants are initially enrolled and followed according to a purely observational approach. A subgroup of the cohort, identified on the basis of predefined clinical and/or operational criteria, is subsequently invited to participate in the interventional component of the study in a non-randomized manner. The effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed using a within-subject comparison, evaluating disease progression during the 12 months preceding enrolment in the interventional substudy and the 12 months following enrolment. This within-patient control design is considered more efficient than the inclusion of a randomized control group, particularly in light of the limited number of participants that can be pragmatically recruited. The remaining cohort members will continue standard follow-up to evaluate the natural course of their disease. Patients who provide informed consent to participate in the nested interventional substudy will receive detailed instructions on the correct use of the MAIA platform and its associated devices, as well as on the procedures and schedule for completing the study questionnaires. Participants will then be followed longitudinally, with follow-up assessments at 6 and 12 months. Withdrawal from the study (drop-out) will occur if the patient and/or caregiver becomes unable to continue the protocol-required activities, if there is non-compliance with the protocol timeline (defined as failure to meet two consecutive monthly deadlines), or if informed consent is withdrawn.