Described herein is a genetic modifier of cystic fibrosis (CF), which may serve as a predictor of the efficacy of a CFTR-directed therapy. SNPs rs7512462 or rs2869027 in non-coding regions of SLC26A9 are shown to correlate with CF lung disease severity in patients having CFTR mutations that leave protein at the cell surface, e.g. gating mutations such as G551D. It is also shown that patient response to Ivacaftor correlates with SLC26A9 genotype. Given the biology of SLC26A9, risk alleles of SLC26A9 should correlate with reduced SLC26A9. SLC26A9 activity (marked by e.g. genotype or expression level) is therefore a predictor of treatment efficacy for any CFTR-directed therapeutic, such as Ivacaftor or Lumacaftor. Associated methods of selecting and treating patients are described, along with related kits, uses, and drug discovery platforms.

Described herein are methods relating to the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of airway dysfunction, e.g., bronchiectasis by detecting gene expression in a sample obtained from a subject. Exemplary samples include a bronchial brushing, nasal brushing, sputum, or peripheral blood sample.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide compositions comprising NEK10 for example, wild-type NEK10 or a hyper-active NEK10 mutant such as NEK10.sup.S684D, and methods of using such for treating a respiratory disorder such as bronchiectasis.

A method for determining a prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, comprising the following steps (a) to (c): (a) a step of detecting an amount of at least one protein selected from S100A4, CIRP, and 14-3-3γ for a biological sample separated from the test subject; (b) a step of comparing the amount of the protein detected in the step (a) with a standard amount of the protein; and (c) a step of determining that the prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis of the test subject is poor in a case where as a result of the comparison in the step (b), the amount of the protein in the test subject is higher than the standard amount.

Methods and kits for screening, diagnosing, detecting or predicting a patient outcome/risk in a patient with a respiratory illness, the method comprising: a. obtaining a sample obtained from the patient; b. quantitatively measuring in the sample a polypeptide level of one or more biomarkers selected from: IL-6, CXCL8, IL-10, IL-IRA, IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, IFN-g, IP-10, MCP-1, G-CSF, GM-CSF, FGF-basic, SCGF-β, GRO-α, MIP1-α, MIP1-β, CK-18, PDGF-bb, caspase 3, HMGB-1, TNF α, VEGF, sTNFR1 and sTREM1; and c. i) comparing the level of the one or more biomarkers in the sample with a control or cut-off level, wherein the differential level is indicative of patient outcome risk; or ii) using the polypeptide level of several of the biomarkers in combination, as inputs for an algebraic calculation or machine learning model of patient outcome risk.

Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix is a hallmark of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), it is advantageous to target the cells and the mechanisms associated with this process. By targeting myofibroblasts (specialized contractile fibroblasts) that are key for the development of IPF with drugs conjugated with fibroblast activation protein (FAP). this technology helps minimize the production of extracellular matrix in the lungs and provides a new treatment option for patients diagnosed with IPF.

The invention relates to methods for predicting the response of a subject suffering from asthma or a respiratory disorder to a therapy comprising a Th2 pathway modulator and a device for use in such methods.

The present invention provides a device and method based on lateral flow immunoassay for CC16 semi-quantification in serum sample. A novel membrane based semi quantitative detection of physiological/pathological levels of CC16 in the serum has been provided. The device of the present invention provides affordable and easy to use strip-based screening approach for early detection of silicosis using CC16 as a biomarker.

Disclosed herein are biomarkers related to preclinical pulmonary fibrosis and methods of identifying the same. In embodiments, the biomarkers are proteins. In embodiments, the biomarkers are transcripts.

The invention provides biomarkers and combinations of biomarkers useful in diagnosing lung diseases such as non-small cell lung cancer or reactive airway disease. The invention also provides methods of differentiating lung disease, methods of monitoring therapy, and methods of predicting a subject's response to therapeutic intervention based on the extent of expression of the biomarkers and combinations of biomarkers. Kits comprising agents for detecting the biomarkers and combination of biomarkers are also provided.