Dr. Brad Quon: Investigating Inflammation in the Trikafta Era 

Dr. Brad Quon, a Clinician-Scientist at the University of British Columbia, is asking bold, urgent questions amid the game-changing impact of CFTR modulators like Trikafta:  Is inflammation still a problem? Who still needs treatment beyond Trikafta? How can we personalize care to meet every patient’s need? 

The answers he’s pursuing matter deeply to the people with cystic fibrosis (CF) who are living longer, fuller lives, but still face daily health challenges. Dr. Quon’s research is revealing why the CF story doesn’t end with modulators – it evolves with them. 

Dr. Quon’s current research project funded by Cystic Fibrosis Canada builds on the CAN-Impact study, an observational effort to understand how Trikafta affects quality of life, lung health, and more. He is focusing on inflammation and how it changes after people start Trikafta, and what it means for long-term health. The project initially followed patients for two years after starting Trikafta and now is proposing to extend the follow-up period to five years. 

His team is tracking biomarkers , which are measurable signs in the body that can indicate changes in health or disease, in blood samples to detect signals of immune system activity over time.  

“We’ve seen that inflammation decreases after starting Trikafta – but interestingly, it starts to creep back up again around year two,” he explains. “Why is that?” 

Inflammation, even at low levels, can quietly affect health outcomes, causing fatigue or worsening lung function. Their goal is to understand what’s going on beneath the surface, even when patients feel better. 

A New Chapter 

While Trikafta has been life-changing for many, it hasn’t erased the complexity of CF. The drug also won’t help everyone with CF, leaving a portion of the CF population in Canada without an effective treatment.  

“Some of our patients still experience fatigue and other symptoms, even though their lung function has improved” 

His team has found that inflammatory markers correlate with overall well-being scores on quality of life questionnaires. Evidence that lingering inflammation may still be affecting daily life. His research could have a major impact by guiding the development of new anti-inflammatory treatments and helping clinicians decide who still needs them.  

“It’s no longer about throwing every treatment at every patient,” he explains. “We’re now in a place where we can use biomarkers to personalize care.” 

Beyond the Lab 

As a Clinician-Scientist, Dr. Quon’s day-to-day clinical encounters help shape the direction of his lab’s investigations, ensuring the work stays grounded to real-life concerns. That relevance is more important than ever as the CF community grapples with emerging needs.  

“Trikafta helps the lungs, but there’s so much more – mental health, aging, diabetes,” he explains. “We need to treat the whole person, not just one aspect of CF.” 

Dr. Quon is a strong advocate for mental health resources, highlighting the current lack of dedicated mental health support in CF clinics across Canada. 

The Long-Term Vision  

Dr. Quon’s research goals are clear: understand inflammation across different organ systems, identify patients who need more than just CFTR modulators, and enable drug development that targets inflammation.  

In addition to these goals, the blood samples being collected can help support future discovery research. Dr. Quon is already collaborating with another researcher to explore how Trikafta might (or might not) bring lipid-related inflammation levels to normal in people with CF. 

Dr. Quon is hopeful that personalized CF care is going to be a reality.  

“We’re already doing inflammatory phenotyping to identify subgroups,” he explains. “In the future, we may be able to say: ‘You still have this kind of inflammation. Here’s a therapy that targets it.’ That’s the kind of care we’re striving for.” 

He also remains deeply committed to patients not yet eligible for modulators. His lab work is involved in nasal cell testing to advocate for access to CFTR modulators for those with rare mutations. 

A Final Word to the Community  

Dr. Quon would like to thank patients with CF for their continued support.  

“It’s the generosity of the CF community that allows us to collect and analyze samples,” he emphasizes. “This research has real, direct relevance to people living with CF today.” 

Dr. Quon is humbled to receive the Erik and Birthe Andersen Senior Scientist Award – recognizing the outstanding contributions of an established CF investigator – but is quick to share the credit.  

“This is a collective effort. It’s the patients, research coordinators, the investigators across six sites who’ve made this possible.” 

As the CF landscape continues to evolve, Dr. Brad Quon’s research reminds us that even in the age of transformative therapies like Trikafta, the journey is far from over. 

Dr. Quon received the inaugural Erik and Birthe Andersen Senior Scientist Award for this project. Established in the Andersen family’s name, it honours their legacy by supporting innovative research with the goal that no more families lose a loved one to cystic fibrosis.