In 2013 the government invested only £600,000 in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) research – leukaemia research received over £32m from all sources, – despite the fact IPF kills more people each year than leukaemia.

Funding for research of the disease is also significantly lower than for other conditions – in 2013 the government invested only £600,000 in IPF research – leukaemia research received over £32m from all sources.

There are estimated to be around 15,000 people living with IPF in the UK. 5,000 of those will be dead within a year, while over 5,000 more will be diagnosed within the same period. Comparatively 2,600 people are diagnosed with leukaemia each year.

The number of people with IPF in the UK is increasing by around 5% a year. It can progress very quickly with half of IPF patients dying, usually of respiratory failure, within three years of diagnosis.
Those affected by the condition are joining together to mark IPF awareness week by calling for more research and support for IPF patients and their families.

Find out more at our WebTv show here.