Tejal Somvanshi
A team at Oxford University is developing a breakthrough breathing test that could catch lung diseases like asthma and COPD much earlier – before irreversible damage occurs. The £1.3 million project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), aims to bring this advanced testing technology from research labs directly into local GP surgeries and pharmacies.
The new test, called computed cardiopulmonography (CCP), works in a remarkably simple way for patients. Unlike current lung tests that require forceful exhaling, CCP only needs you to breathe normally for 12 minutes through a mouthpiece. The device captures detailed information about airflow patterns in your lungs using a precise gas analyzer and laser technology.
“To improve lung health, we need to move from fire-fighting advanced disease to detecting and treating it earlier, when it is still possible to prevent progression,” explains Professor Grant Ritchie, who leads the project at Oxford University.
The current standard test for diagnosing lung conditions, spirometry, has significant limitations. It measures how much air a person can forcefully exhale, but many patients find it difficult to perform properly. More importantly, spirometry often misses early-stage disease. By the time it detects abnormalities, the damage to lungs is typically permanent.
CCP takes a completely different approach. Early studies show it can detect subtle changes in lung function that spirometry misses, particularly in the small airways where diseases like asthma and COPD often begin. This means doctors could potentially start treatment sooner, preventing progression and improving long-term outcomes.
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The three-year project, called ACCESS (A Community-based diagnostiC for early airwayS disease), involves researchers from multiple departments at Oxford, working alongside healthcare providers and patients. The team will collaborate with the national charity Asthma + Lung UK, involving patients directly in the research design.
A key focus is making the technology available in disadvantaged communities, where lung diseases hit hardest and where hospital-based care is often difficult to access. Respiratory diseases affect over half a billion people globally and cause more than four million deaths annually.
Before CCP can move into community settings, researchers need to overcome some practical challenges. Currently, the test takes too long and requires specialist gas supplies that aren’t available outside hospitals. The Oxford team aims to reduce both the test duration and the amount of gas needed, while also speeding up data analysis so results are available immediately.
Professor Charlotte Deane from EPSRC says this approach could “shift the system from treatment to prevention, improve outcomes, tackle health inequalities, and ease pressure on hospitals.”
Towards the end of the project, the team plans to trial CCP at a community diagnostic center, gathering feedback from both patients and healthcare professionals to refine the technology before wider rollout.
The potential impact is significant – earlier detection means earlier treatment, fewer hospital visits, and better outcomes for millions of people living with lung disease. By bringing advanced diagnostic tools into community settings, this technology could transform how we identify and manage some of the world’s most common chronic diseases.
