Last year, Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) was awarded a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) award to evaluate and compare the clinical effectiveness and safety of long-term inhaled corticosteroids and macrolide therapies among non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis patients. The COPD Foundation is partnering with OHSU and NTM Info & Research on this study, which aims at comparing the relative safety of inhaled corticosteroids and macrolide therapy as it relates to the acquisition of NTM lung disease, and comparing the effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids and macrolide therapy with regards to prevention of hospitalized respiratory infection.

On June 1^st, my colleague Delia and I attended the first annual meeting for this project. The meeting was convened in Salt Lake City and attendees included patients, researchers, and representatives from NTM Info & Research. It was enlightening to hear about the current trends in bronchiectasis therapy from Dr. Kevin Winthrop and Dr. Chuck Daley, who are both experts in the field. It was also great to meet with patients in person and hear first-hand accounts of their struggles with bronchiectasis, from delayed diagnosis to issues with various treatments, and what they do (independently of therapies) to help reduce the burden of their symptoms.  The current lack of data about treatment for this lung disease makes this study that much more important to treat those who are living with Bronchiectasis. I look forward to learning more about this and being a part of the team throughout the next few years.