Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease of unknown cause that leads to respiratory failure and death within five years of diagnosis.

Over 6,000 new diagnoses of IPF are made each year in the UK and the incidence of the disease is shown to increase with age.

Currently, treatment options are limited to slowing the decline of the disease, stressing the need to better understand the triggers that drive the development and progression of fibrosis.

I am currently undertaking a PhD at Imperial College London (National Heart and Lung Institute) and in the next 3 years I will be conducting research to better understand the causes that drive the development and progression of this deadly disease.

ITA 659 will be raising awareness for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis by sailing solo in the 2019 Mini Transat Trans-Atlantic Sailing Race. 

This 25 long day solo ocean race will start in La Rochelle (France) and will end in Le Marin in Martinique (French West Indies) covering over 4,000 miles.

              Please support ITA 659 throughout this journey

• If you are a lover of sailing, science or if you simply would like to make a difference and contribute to research in this field please donate! 

• Text SAIL85 £2 to 70070.

• I am currently recruiting healthy individuals (smokers and non-smokers) who would be willing to undertake a bronchoscopy and contribute to the project I am working on for my PhD. 
• These volunteers will receive a compensation as a reward.
• Please contact me at R.Invernizzi16@imperial.ac.uk if you are based in London (UK) for further information.
  

Thank you!