The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has announced that it will commit at least $100 million over the next five years as part of an ambitious effort to address the chronic and intractable infections that are characteristic of cystic fibrosis. 

The Infection Research Initiative will take a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes associated with infections through enhanced detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment and will more than double the foundation’s investment in the area. According to the foundation, the vast majority of people with CF experience complications from microorganism-caused infections, and those with chronic infections are at greater risk for worsening lung disease and death.

The initiative will work to identify new ways of detecting microorganisms and diagnosing infections; enhance understanding of CF microorganisms and how they are acquired; support the development of safe and effective treatments, including antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals; optimize current treatments to improve outcomes and minimize treatment burden; evaluate the impact of long-term or frequent intermittent anti-microbial use; and understand how infections are influenced by disease-modifying treatments.

"Infection is a leading cause of loss of lung function among patients with CF and, as a result, frequent and long-term use of anti-infectives is often a necessary burden of managing the disease," said William R. Skach, the foundation’s senior vice president of research affairs. "Even with the introduction of highly effective disease modifying therapies, we estimate that approximately half of the CF population may continue to require improved anti-infective treatments in twenty years. A comprehensive approach is needed to make meaningful progress against this complex challenge, and we have set out a bold agenda in research and drug development to drive advances that will help enable people with CF to live full and healthy lives."