Background: Silicosis is a fatal lung disease caused by inhaling silica particles. Australia is currently facing an epidemic with hundreds of young workers having contracted silicosis from machining engineered stone. AIMS: To establish the SHIELD COHORT and associated SHIELD BIOBANK to drive further discovery including assessing the efficacy of whole lung lavage for accelerated silicosis, uncovering disease biomarkers, and druggable targets.~PARTICIPANTS: 75 participants who are respirable crystalline silica exposed workers, (this includes n=30 with silicosis, n=15 with progressive massive fibrosis and n=30 with no pneumoconiosis). METHODS: Advanced microscopy, 'omic platforms and single cell RNA sequencing. OUTCOME: The SHIELD study builds on the knowledge gap to accurately diagnose silicosis, as well as predict disease progression, assess response to treatment, and hasten therapeutic discovery
An observational cohort study to derive biomarkers which are able to more accurately diagnose silicosis, as well as predict disease progression, assess response to treatment, and hasten therapeutic discovery.