The ultimate goal in translational medicine is to test and validate new therapeutic options in humans and to advance appropriate tools for tailored treatment. Therefore, a major aim of the DZL is to promote and enable the progress of early clinical trials, fostering these approaches.

DZL aims to facilitate innovative investigator initiated studies (IITs) in lung diseases. A particular focus of the DZL are innovative Phase IIa IITs. These might be studies in wellcharacterized subgroups of patients, to explore the option of personalized medicine (for example, in oncology, aiming to match patients with molecularly defined alterations of the tumour to specific treatments). These studies are ideally combined with predictive diagnostics approaches.

Furthermore, studies where industry is less interested or which explore new indications of already authorized or off-patent medicinal products, are in the focus of the DZL.

Innovative science can often lead in unexpected directions. In order to be able to respond to new findings in the field and translate those findings as quickly as possible to positive outcomes for patients, a portion of the DZL budget was set aside for innovative clinical trials.

Presently funded clinical trials:

Randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot study on the safety of hypertonic saline as a preventative inhalation therapy in newborn patients with cystic fibrosis
Coordinating Investigator: M. Mall
Cooperating Partners: ARCN, BREATH, TLRC, UGMLC

Comprehensive characterization of Non Small Cell Lung Cancel (NLCLC) by integrated clinical and molecular analysis
Coordinating Investigator: M. Thomas, R. M. Huber
Cooperating Partners: ARCN, CPC, DKFZ, TLRC

Clinical validation of the iNOS-EMAPII axis as biomarkers, predictors and novel targets in COPD
Coordinating Investigator: R. Voswinckel, C. Vogelmeier
Cooperating Partners: ARCN, UGML

Exploratory efficacy and safety study of oral Pirfenodone for progressive, non-IPF lung fibrosis (RELIEF in Lung Fibrosis)Coordinating Investigator: J. Behr
Cooperating Partners: ARCN, BREATH, CPC, TLRC, UGMLC

Impact of de-novo donor specific antibodies on short- and long –term patient survival following single-and double-lung transplantationCoordinating Investigator: T. Kauke, H. Winter
Cooperating Partners: BREATH, CPC

Promotion of host defense and alveolar barrier restoration by inhaled GM-CSF in patients with pneumonia-associated ARDSCoordinating Investigator: J. Lohmeyer, S. HeroldCooperating Partners: BREATH, UGMLC