Feathered fans help scientists map a lung-disease mystery
Pigeon fanciers are helping scientists study pigeon lung, a hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Since 2019 UK researchers and the British Pigeon Fanciers Medical Research Trust have tested more than 500 volunteers at pigeon shows, using spirometry, oscillometry, blood tests, DNA analysis, and questionnaires to compare those who stay healthy with those who develop lung symptoms. The goal is to identify who is at risk, enable earlier diagnosis, and uncover biological processes that could inform treatments for this and related exposure‑driven interstitial lung diseases across the wider population.