Clean Air, Healthy Lungs, Better Living!

When a person has interstitial lung disease (ILD), parts of the lungs that help oxygen get into our blood and out to our tissues are damaged. Scarring in the lungs makes it hard to breathe, and the person might develop a chronic cough. Lack of oxygen makes patients feel tired all the time.
Some causes of ILD aren’t preventable. However, one can reduce the risk of ILD by managing underlying conditions and avoiding breathing in harmful substances.
• Avoid or wear a respirator (a mask that filters particles from the air) when working around harmful substances, such as asbestos, metal dusts or chemicals.
• Avoid or wear a respirator when working around things that can cause chronic allergic reactions, like hay, grain, bird droppings or feathers and heating and cooling systems.
• Quit smoking.
Take preventive measures to reduce the risk. Clean air is essential for healthy lungs and exposure to air pollution can cause inflammation and worsening of the symptoms of ILD.
In Sapien Biobank, we have the data of 25 patients with ILD of different histology as shown below. These samples and data can enable R&D into new drug targets and biomarkers for improving the treatment of ILD patients.