Volunteer Zone - Who Can Volunteer

Volunteer Zone - Who Can Volunteer?

Asthma Studies

We require men and women aged between 18 and 70 who have a diagnosis of asthma which can be mild, moderate or severe. We will assess your asthma by means of simple lung function tests to determine which studies you would be suitable for.

COPD Studies You must be aged over 40 and are a current or ex-smoker having smoked at least 20 cigarettes a day for 10 years with smoking related chest problems eg:- recurrent bronchitis/cough/breathlessness on exertion.

All studies require you to attend the unit at Wythenshawe Hospital therefore you must be fit enough to travel. Transport by taxi can be provided if necessary.

You are allowed to participate in studies if you also have other medical problems as long as they are under control, eg:- high blood pressure / diabetes, arthritis. You must not currently be under investigation for any undiagnosed problem or be awaiting major surgery.

Smokers Screening of Smokers and Ex Smokers at The MEU COPD causes 20 times more deaths than asthma, but because it has a slow onset, the disease can be quite progressed by the time it is diagnosed. It is estimated that only about half of the people in the early stages of the disease know they have it.

The MEU performs studies in this area. As well as testing new medicines to treat people with established COPD we hope to gain information on the changes within the lungs that might be present in people who have a cough or breathlessness due to smoking but don’t have a diagnosis of any lung disease.

It may be possible to identify changes before severe symptoms occur, which will predict lung disease later in life. This will encourage people to stop smoking earlier, and enable new medicines to be developed that slow down the progression of the disease.

The MEU are interested in hearing from anyone over the age 40 years who is a current or ex smoker. We are screening volunteers who have smoked at least 20/day for 10 years or more or equivalent.

Simple lung function (blowing tests) will be carried out and the results will be reviewed to establish if there are any changes consistent with their smoking history, if any early lung function changes are identified these will be discussed with the volunteer and the results would be sent to the volunteers GP (subject to the volunteers agreement).