We are part of the clinical academic and research facility at the National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London.
You can learn more about our active research projects below.
This project aims to establish the first UK Registry of patients with silicosis. The registry will collect vital information on all UK patients with silicosis. This will include information about their ages, where they worked, what jobs they did, and how severe their disease is. This will help doctors understand how best to monitor and treat these patients and ultimately prevent more people from getting sick.
The Registry will improve knowledge about patients living with silicosis in the UK and could lead to better protective measures at work and support medical research to find effective treatments.
This is funded by the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals charity.
This is a 4 year study to assess the safety of using artificial stone in the UK. The programme of work will include an assessment of many people work in the UK with artificial stone in the kitchen worktop industry and how many have silicosis. It will also include measurement of levels of silica in the air in different workplaces and identify risk factors for development of silicosis.
The study started in mid 2026 and is funded by an NIHR Advanced Fellowship.
This is a cross-sectional and cohort study investigating the burden and determinants of silicosis and tuberculosis among a group of Tanzanite gemstone miners.
We are undertaking a cohort study of firefighters from the London Fire Brigade to look at the medium and long term risks associated with firefighting, with a particular emphasis on cardiorespiratory health and cancer. The cohort includes both firefighters who did, and did not attend the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. Recruitment began in late 2019 and finished in 2023.
Analysis of a subgroup of blood results looking at cancer biomarkers has now been published (Feary et al, 2025).
Analysis of lung function results is expected to be complete by 31/12/2025.
ADVANCE (ArmeD SerVices TrAuma RehabilitatioN OutComE) is a 20-year study investigating the long-term medical and psychosocial outcomes of UK battlefield casualties from Iraq or Afghanistan (2003-2014). The study also supports these injured men during and after their transition into civilian life.
The study is mainly based at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) in Stanford Hall, Leicestershire.
ADVANCE receives financial support from Help for Heroes, the MOD and HM Treasury (via the LIBOR Fund).
Susie Schofield is the ADVANCE study statistician. Johanna Feary leads and supports the respiratory research within the study.
Further details can be found on the ADVANCE study website.
