The Revolution in Cystic Fibrosis Care That is Changing Lives

Inside Health

BBC

Health & Fitness, Science

4.4 • 575 Ratings

🗓️ 2 September 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1964, the future for children born with Cystic Fibrosis was grim - most faced a life cut tragically short. Today, the majority of people living with CF in the UK are adults, a testament to extraordinary medical progress.

We meet Annabelle who lives with Cystic Fibrosis, and once believed she might not see her 18th birthday. And we hear from Dr Imogen Felton, a respiratory consultant at Royal Brompton Hospital, with expertise in cystic fibrosis, who tells us about the therapies crucial to this extended prognosis.

The EDITH trial (Early Detection using Information Technology in Health) is testing how AI can help radiologists identify breast cancer at an earlier stage, transforming the future of diagnosis. We speak to Professor Sian Taylor-Philips, Professor of Population Health at the University of Warwick and co-leader of the trial.

In 2024, participation in Run Clubs across the UK surged by 64%. But does running in a group lead to better performance? To find out, James laces up for a jog around Hyde Park with the Monday Mood Booster Run Club and speaks with Arran Davis, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, who’s exploring the links between social interaction and physical activity.

Presenter: James Gallagher Producers: Debbie Kilbride, Minnie Harrop & Tom Bonnett Editor: Ilan Goodman Production coordinator: Ishmael Soriano This episode was produced in partnership with The Open University.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Greg Jenna and good news, Your Dead to Me is back for a new series. Here we go. Yes, we'll explore Emperor Nero's notorious reign with Professor Marybeard and Patton Oswald. I would not want my daughter having the remote control, not alone an empire. We'll dissect the decadent life of Philippe Duke-Dolion with Tom Allen. I've often tried to pretend I'm an aristocrat and being very quickly knocked down. And there'll be so much more with comedians like Olga Koch, Mike Mosniak and Ria Lina. I'm excited. You're dead to me, the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Listen first on BBC Sounds. Hello there and welcome to the Inside Health podcast. I'm James Gallagher. This week, I've got my running shoes on.
0:39.3	I was a bit anxious about running in a group because not very fast. I thought I wouldn't be able to keep up and especially like chat whilst running as well.
0:47.9	I don't even like running that much, but the people here are just so great that it just keeps me coming every week, so here I am.
0:55.9	We'll be finding out if exercising in a group is better than doing it on your own, and we're
1:01.0	also looking at the NHS trial aiming to transform breast cancer screening with artificial
1:06.3	intelligence. But first, I want to talk to you about a revolution that's been taking place in cystic fibrosis.
1:13.5	This is the disease that's caused by mutations in our DNA, the result in the body making thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and other organs.
1:22.6	And if, like me, you grew up watching news round, you'll have heard how cystic fibrosis was fatal in childhood
1:28.4	or early adulthood. But children born with cystic fibrosis today are on average expected to live
1:35.3	into their 60s. That is some difference. Part of the reason is the development of a class of drugs
1:42.1	known as modulators. These targets the underlying defects in cystic fibrosis.
1:48.0	The latest modulator became available on the NHS last month.
1:52.1	We're going to get into what they do in the body
1:54.3	and why they don't actually work for everyone in a moment.
1:57.3	But first, I want you to meet Annabel, who has cystic fibrosis. Hello, Annabelle.
2:02.4	Hiya. So Annabel, can you tell me when you were first diagnosed with cystic fibrosis?
2:07.4	So I was first diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when I was 12 months old. My mum always had
2:13.9	suspicions that something wasn't quite right with me.
2:21.2	GPs just dismissed her as being a new mum, having anxiety.
2:23.6	It wasn't until the whole family caught the flu.
2:25.7	And my parents recovered.
2:26.9	And I didn't.
	...

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