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New MRI scans aim to unlock secrets of lung disease and long COVID
NCT ID NCT04872309
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study uses special MRI scans with inhaled gases to see how lungs work in people with asthma, COPD, or COVID-19. Researchers will follow up to 160 participants over several years to track changes in lung function. The goal is to better understand why some patients struggle with oxygen therapy and whether COVID-19 causes lasting lung damage.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could improve how doctors track lung disease progression and understand long-term effects of COVID-19.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational imaging study, not a treatment trial. It is currently suspended, and results may not lead to immediate clinical changes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 160 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Sep 2019
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Asthma/COPD/COVID-19
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Asthma patients Inclusion criteria 1. Adults aged 18 years or over. 2. Physician diagnosis of stable asthma (BTS guideline Step 3 or above). Exclusion criteria 1. Recent asthma exacerbation requiring steroids and/or antibiotics in the 6 weeks prior to a study visit. 2. Asthma deemed by a physician to be unstable or in an active treatment modification phase. 3. Pregnancy (determined by urine pregnancy test for pre-menopausal women at the screening (V1) or eligibility visits (V3, V5). 4. Resting blood oxygen saturations (SaO2) \< 90% in room air, as measured by oximeter. 5. Inability to comfortably lie supine. 6. Any contraindication(s) to MRI scanning as per the MRI Screening Form and standard operating procedure used by the Unit of Academic Radiology, Sheffield. 7. Disease or co-morbidity of sufficient severity as to make survival until 6 year follow up unlikely, as deemed by study clinician. COPD patients Inclusion criteria 1. Adults aged 18 years or over. 2. Stage 3 or stage 4 COPD as defined by GOLD guidelines 2018, (https://goldcopd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/GOLD-2019-v1.7-FINAL-14Nov2018-WMS.pdf) . 3. FEV1:FVC \<0.7 (spirometry results). 4. FEV1 \< 50% predicted (spirometry results). N.B. spirometry results that have been performed as part of a patient's normal clinical care within 6 months of study visit 1 may be used for definition of disease status and inclusion into the study; alternatively if no spirometry result is available it will be performed at visit 1. Exclusion criteria 1. Recent COPD exacerbation requiring steroids and/or antibiotics in the 6 weeks prior to a study visit. 2. COPD deemed by a physician to be unstable or in an active treatment modification phase, including the active phase of pulmonary rehabilitation. 3. Pregnancy (determined by urine pregnancy test for pre-menopausal women at the screening (V1) or eligibility visits (V3, V5). 4. Significant heart failure as assessed by clinician. 5. Resting blood oxygen saturations (SaO2) \< 90% in room air, as measured by oximeter. 6. Inability to comfortably lie supine. 7. Any contraindication(s) to MRI scanning as per the MRI questionnaire and standard operating procedure used by the Unit of Academic Radiology, Sheffield. 8. Disease or co-morbidity of sufficient severity as to make survival until 6 year follow up unlikely, as deemed by study clinician. ICU COVID-19 Inclusion criteria 1. Adult over 18 2. Proven COVID-19 3. Hospitalised/previously hospitalised on ICU requiring CPAP or mechanical ventilation 4. Able to give informed consent 5. For currently hospitalised participants, or those with significant on-going respiratory problems - Tolerates test inhalation of non-polarised gas according to supervising clinicians' judgement AND SaO2 do not fall below 80% Exclusion criteria 1. No previous diagnosed respiratory disease with the exception of mild asthma, defined as: 1. no oral steroids in past year 2. -no hospital admissions last year 3. max 500mcg per day BDP or 250mcg fluticasone or equivalent ICS 2. Pregnancy (determined by urine pregnancy test for pre-menopausal women) 3. Significant heart failure as assessed by clinician. 4. Resting blood oxygen saturations (SaO2) \< 90%, as measured by oximeter at the time of scanning. 5. Inability to comfortably lie supine. 6. Any contraindication(s) to MRI scanning or Gadolinium contrast agent as per the MRI questionnaire and standard operating procedure used by the MRI Unit. 6\. Stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease, defined by creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min as estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation (due to gadolinium contrast use). 7. Previous allergy to gadolinium contrast. 8. Significant co-morbidity to make enrolment unsuitable, as deemed by study clinician. Moderate/Severe COVID-19 Inclusion criteria 1. Adult over 18 2. Proven COVID-19 3. Hospitalised/previously hospitalised with a diagnosis of pneumonia (chest X-ray or CT scan consistent with COVID-19 infection) 4. Whilst hospitalised had new onset oxygenation impairment defined as: a. An SpO2 ≤93% on room air and/or requiring additional oxygen to maintain satisfactory oxygenation 5. Able to give informed consent 6. For currently hospitalised participants, or those with significant on-going respiratory problems - Tolerates test inhalation of non-polarised gas according to supervising clinicians judgement AND SaO2 do not fall below 80% Exclusion criteria 1. No previous diagnosed respiratory disease with the exception of mild asthma, defined as: 1. no oral steroids in past year 2. -no hospital admissions last year 3. max 500mcg per day BDP or 250mcg fluticasone or equivalent ICS 2. Pregnancy (determined by urine pregnancy test for pre-menopausal women) 3. Significant heart failure as assessed by clinician. 4. Resting blood oxygen saturations (SaO2) \< 90%, as measured by oximeter at time of MRI scanning. 5. Inability to comfortably lie supine. 6. Any contraindication(s) to MRI scanning or Gadolinium contrast agent as per the MRI questionnaire and standard operating procedure used by the MRI Unit. 7. Stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease, defined by creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min as estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation (due to gadolinium contrast use). 8. Previous allergy to gadolinium contrast. 9. Significant co-morbidity to make enrolment unsuitable, as deemed by study clinician. Mild- Non-hospitalised Inclusion criteria 1. Adult over 18 2. Proven COVID-19 3. Not hospitalised for COVID-19 4. Able to give informed consent Exclusion criteria 1. No previous diagnosed respiratory disease with the exception of mild asthma, defined as: 1. no oral steroids in past year 2. -no hospital admissions last year 3. max 500mcg per day BDP or 250mcg fluticasone or equivalent ICS 2. Pregnancy (determined by urine pregnancy test for pre-menopausal women) 3. Significant heart failure as assessed by clinician. 4. Resting blood oxygen saturations (SaO2) \< 90%, as measured by oximeter. 5. Inability to comfortably lie supine. 6. Any contraindication(s) to MRI scanning or Gadolinium contrast agent as per the MRI questionnaire and standard operating procedure used by the MRI Unit. 7. Stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease, defined by creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min as estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation (due to gadolinium contrast use). 8. Previous allergy to gadolinium contrast. 9. Significant co-morbidity to make enrolment unsuitable, as deemed by study clinician. Non-hospitalised symptomatic (long-COVID group) Inclusion criteria 1. Adult over 18 2. Proven COVID-19 3. Not hospitalised for COVID-19 4. Able to give informed consent 5. Attended secondary care clinic with on-going symptoms. Exclusion criteria 1. No previous diagnosed respiratory disease with the exception of mild asthma, defined as: 1. no oral steroids in past year 2. no hospital admissions last year 3. max 500mcg per day BDP or 250mcg fluticasone or equivalent ICS 2. Pregnancy (determined by urine pregnancy test for pre-menopausal women) 3. Significant heart failure as assessed by clinician. 4. Resting blood oxygen saturations (SaO2) \< 90%, as measured by oximeter at the time of scanning. 5. Inability to comfortably lie supine. 6. Any contraindication(s) to MRI scanning or Gadolinium contrast agent as per the MRI questionnaire and standard operating procedure used by the MRI Unit. 7. Stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease, defined by creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min as estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation (due to gadolinium contrast use). 8. Previous allergy to gadolinium contrast. 9. Significant co-morbidity to make enrollment unsuitable, as deemed by study clinician.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Academic Unit of Radiology, Univeristy of Sheffield
Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2SJ, United Kingdom
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