Interstitial Lung Disease
An Introduction to Interstitial Lung Disease
Ongoing translational research is unearthing targetable mechanisms of disease
progression shared across the spectrum of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Recent approvals of antifibrotic therapies slowing loss of lung function have advanced treatment and care options for patients living with progressive ILD. Immunomodulatory agents inhibiting immune-mediated pathways (including interleukin (IL)-6-driven inflammation and adaptive immune cell responses) are currently undergoing
evaluation for disease modifying properties to preserve lung function in ILD with underlying autoimmune disease.
Expert video highlights and insights from the conference hub and comprehensive peer-reviewed articles from our journal portfolio provide updates on the ever changing landscape. To learn more about how the latest developments impact on patient outcomes view our expert-led learning activities.
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The American Thoracic Society’s annual conference was held in Orlando, Florida from May 15-20, bringing together global experts in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Across the week, attendees shared new research and clinical advances through scientific sessions, abstract presentations, and collaborative discussions aimed at improving respiratory care and patient outcomes. In this interview, Dr Jean Elwing (University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA) breaks down the key presentations, sessions and abstracts from the conference, highlighting the substantial progress made in the field and the challenges that still remain
Respirology Reflections is our new, expert-led, practice pearls series delivering concise, actionable insights from leading experts in respiratory and pulmonary medicine. Designed to help healthcare professionals stay current, it highlights real-world challenges, emerging evidence, and actionable strategies to enhance clinical practice, strengthen decision-making, and build confidence in an increasingly complex and fast-evolving field.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders that pose significant challenges for clinical trial design, from patient selection to endpoint definition and global implementation. Despite advances in therapeutic development, translating trial findings into real-world benefit remains difficult, particularly when study populations and protocols do not fully reflect the complexity of routine clinical practice. As part of our Respirology Reflections series, Dr Tejaswini Kulkarni discusses practical strategies for designing more inclusive and pragmatic ILD trials, including patient selection, recruitment, endpoint choice, and aligning study protocols with real-world care.
Fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) remain difficult to treat due to their clinical heterogeneity, variable trajectories, and an increasingly complex therapeutic landscape. As part of our Respirology Reflections series, we spoke with Prof. Girish B. Nair to discuss early treatment initiation, selecting and sequencing antifibrotic or immunosuppressive therapies, evaluating response and duration, managing side effects, and addressing comorbidities and disease variability over time.
The PROLIFIC Risk Score, a multi-biomarker blood test for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), recently reached a major milestone as the first IPF biomarker accepted into the FDA’s Biomarker Qualification Program. This achievement underscores its potential to improve patient stratification and prediction of disease progression. In this interview, PROLIFIC Chair Peter Schafer discusses how the Risk Score works, the unmet needs it addresses, and its path toward full FDA qualification.
We are thrilled to welcome Dr Kulkarni to the touchREVIEWS in Respiratory & Pulmonary Diseases Editorial Board and look forward to her expertise, leadership and vision contributing to the continued growth and impact of the journal.
The CHEST 2025 annual meeting brought together pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine experts to share emerging science, clinical insights, and forward-looking innovations shaping respiratory care. Through focused conversations with leaders across the field, these interviews highlight practical, practice-ready insights that clinicians can bring directly to patient care.
As the therapeutic landscape for fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) continues to evolve, new trials are redefining targeted treatment and precision medicine approaches. In this Q&A, Dr Tejaswini Kulkarni discusses her CHEST 2025 presentation, highlighting emerging therapeutic targets, the role of biomarkers, recruitment challenges, and innovative trial designs shaping the future of fibrotic ILD research.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is marking a major milestone in 2025: 25 years of progress in improving the lives of those affected by pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Since its founding in 2000, PFF has become a leading voice in patient support, education, research funding, and advocacy. This September we are also taking part in PFF’s Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month (PFAM), which is held yearly. Through this campaign, the PFF aims to raise national awareness of pulmonary fibrosis, educate the public and healthcare professionals, amplify patient and caregiver voices, and inspire action through advocacy and fundraising efforts.
As touchRESPIRATORY approaches 10 years of providing education for busy respiratory specialists, we are looking to the future—and it certainly looks bright!
Physician burnout is at a critical point. In this episode, Nicky speaks with Dr Alfred Atanda about why so many physicians are burning out and what can be done to change the trend. From personal experience to system-wide solutions, Dr Atanda shares valuable insights on improving physician well-being and building a more effective healthcare culture.
What if your medical degree could launch more than a clinical career? In this candid and compelling read, Dr Jon Edelson shares his lessons for early-career clinicians ready to think beyond the bedside and explore the business of medicine.
In this episode, we explore the future of continuing medical education (CME) with the team behind touchIME. Hannah Fisher and Matthew Goodwin share insights into global and US trends, the importance of patient inclusivity and how educational outcomes are evolving to better measure the direct impact of learning on clinical practice and patient care.
Boehringer Ingelheim has announced that its investigational drug, nerandomilast (BI 1015550), has successfully met the primary endpoint in the phase III FIBRONEER™-ILD study. The trial assessed the absolute change from baseline in forced vital capacity (FVC) [mL] at Week 52 compared ...
The unmet need for effective treatments for childhood interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) is significant, with no drugs currently approved for this vulnerable population—unlike in adult patients.
Although there is limited evidence on the link between interstitial lung disease (ILD) and malnutrition, malnourished patients tend to have shorter survival rates, regardless of disease severity. A late-breaking abstract presented at ERS 2024 titled “Dietetic intervention in malnourished patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD): a pilot trial” investigated whether dietitian involvement could provide meaningful benefits to these patients, potentially laying the groundwork for further research and future clinical guidelines.
The BETTER-B study, recently presented at ERS and published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, provided new insights into the management of severe breathlessness in patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). Severe breathlessness is a debilitating symptom that significantly impacts the quality of life for millions of people worldwide, yet there are currently no licensed medications to effectively address it outside of Australia. Given the clinical challenges and limited treatment options, clinicians often resort to off-label use of medications like mirtazapine, a widely prescribed antidepressant that appeared promising. Despite its initial promise, the study found that doses ranging from 15 to 45 mg of mirtazapine failed to provide significant relief compared to a placebo. Additionally, the findings highlighted potential adverse effects and increased healthcare costs associated with its use.
Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by inflammation and/or fibrosis.1 Pulmonary fibrosis develops due to repeated cycles of injury and impaired repair with fibroblast activation and migration with the resultant deposition of extracellular matrix ...
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