The team at Birmingham NHS Occupational Lung Disease Service lead and particpate in clinical research relating to work-related asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and asbestos lung diseases. Research funding has been awarded by the UK Colt Foundation, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, US Chest Foundation, UHB NHS Foundation Trust Charities for projects currently in progress. In addition, the team are engaged in academic and commercial clinical trials of new medications for patients with lung fibrosis (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Progressive Fibrosis (PF-ILD or PPF). Patients with asbestosis and other pneumoconioses who are interested in taking part in clinical trials via the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust should contact us, or speak to a team member at their clinical appointment. Research is undertaken in collaboration with University of Birmingham, the Birmingham Regional Severe Asthma Service (BRSAS), Birmingham Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department amongst others.
Current projects led by our team
The HANDS-ON ASTHMA study
This mixed-methods study aims to investigate why patients with asthma display work-related symptoms, in the absence of exposure to inhaled respiratory sensitizers and irritants, and with reference to the bio-psychosoclal model of health. 2023-present. Funded by a UK Colt Foundation project grant and adopted on to the NIHR West Midlands portfolio. Chief investigator - Dr Gareth Walters, Principal investigator - Dr Ngamjit Konsupon
The BEST WORK study
This mixed-methods study aims to establish the barriers to- and facilitators of- safe, meaningful and effective work in patients with severe asthma phenotypes. It takes a look at the impact of novel biologic therapies on work ability. 2023-present. Funded by a US Chest Foundation project grant. Chief investigator - Dr Gareth Walters, Principal investigator - Dr Chris Huntley
The SANDSTONE study
This study aims to understand the relationship between a diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis and inhaled substances at work such as crystalline silica, organic dusts, other mineral dusts, and metals such as beryllium. It is a classic case-control epidemiological study enrolling patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis and normal control subjects from other hospital clinics. 2020-present. Chrief investigator - Dr Gareth Walters, Principal investigator - Dr Chris Huntley
The PURSUIT study
This study aims to (1) understand the barriers and facilitators for healthcare professionals in screening and identifying work-related asthma, in primary care populations, and (2) develop an intervention using behaviorual science techniques, that can aid primary healthcare profesisonals to these ends. Funded by a UK NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) project grant. 2025-present. Chief invesigators - Dr Gareth Walters and Professor Peymane Adab (Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham)
The TEAMS study
This study aims to identify cultural and psychosocial barriers to making a diagnosis of asthma and allergy, and adherence to asthma treatment. Its focus is on marginalised individuals from South Asian communities in Birmingham, UK. It is sponsored by the University of Birmingham and features a collaborative research team from the occupational lung disease service, the Birmingham regional severe asthma service, and Universities of Aston and Birmingham. Funded by a NIHR RfPB project grant. 2025-present. Chief investigator - Prof MT Krishna, Univerity of Birmingham
OASYS development projects
The team is pursuing a number of smaller research projects that use existing data from the OASYS software programme, to idenitify different presentations of work-related asthma. Some of these are being undertaken in conjunction with the EAACI task force on phenotyping occupational asthma (E-PHOCAS), others are being done using data from patients seen at the clinic over many years. 2020-present. Chrief Investigators - Dr Gareth Walters and Professor Sherwood Burge.
photo: the OASYS team, 2023
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