Welcome to the ild care foundation website

The abbreviation ild stands for interstitial lung disease, a group of diseases that includes sarcoidosis as well as occupational and environmental lung diseases. These diffuse lung disease is not as well-known among the general public as diseases such as asthma and COPD.  The ild care foundation is changing this through information and education. This site provides you with all kinds of up-to–date information about the features of each type of ild, from sarcoidosis to pigeon fancier’s disease. Our goal is to greatly improve the care of patients with ild.

Mission Statement
The ild care foundation aims to promote the most effective treatment and the prevention of ild.  Through research we are dedicated to developing new treatments, new diagnostic tools and new tests that reveal the relationship between a patient’s disease and his or her exposure to a possible cause.  As the causes are many, this is not a simple task.  These tools and more knowledge of the diseases are critical to preventing disease in the first place. We are also committed to representing the interests of patients with these relatively unknown and poorly understood disorders and to promoting the best possible quality of life for patients and their families.

Education
Education is essential to raise the awareness of ild.  Most people only become familiar with ild when they or someone they know develops the disease.  The cause of ild (sometimes called diffuse lung disease) is often unknown.  There are many manifestations of ild, including sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, reactions to medicines, and exposure to many environmental and occupational triggers. The course of the disease is often unpredictable and seriously affects the patient’s quality of life. It is often difficult to find the link between the possible trigger and the development of the disease.

We produce printed educational materials, videos, and constantly update our website. Our major instrument is the Foundation’s journal, ild care today. In addition, we organize courses for physicians and meetings for patients and their relatives.  We cooperate closely with patient associations, lung associations, including the Dutch Longfonds (Lung Foundation).  We have close ties to many international organizations, notably WASOG (World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders:

www.wasog.org).

Research
It is well known that ild can be elusive.  Because it is often difficult to link a possible cause to the development of an ild, we avidly support studies that investigate causes, develop new treatments, and look at the impact of interstitial disease on patients and relatives. By facilitating and supporting research we are major players in bridging the gap between the clinic and basic research.  Before funds are allocated, the research proposals are assessed by the executive committee comprised of world-class physicians in pulmonary care.

Innovation
Tests to identify connections between exposure, medication, and the development of disease are increasingly important.  We promote the development of new diagnostic methods. The ild care foundation is pioneering tailored rehabilitation programs.  Each type of ild requires its own special treatment.  We are looking into the role of nutrition, the role of heredity, and the role of exposure to harmful substances over time.  New therapies to prevent ild will result in cost savings by reducing absenteeism from work and less use of medical care and social services.

Prevention
Prevention of disease is the gold standard of excellent medical care.  The ild care foundation is bridging the gap between health care and industry and works hard to involve industries in innovative research projects.  Identifying harmful influences at an early stage and setting up prevention programs creates a significantly healthier work environment.

Personalized medicine
Tailor-made treatment is crucial in caring for ild patients.  Each type of interstitial lung disease has a different cause, a different course, and a different treatment required. The ild care foundation makes sure that treatment is patient-centered to meet the needs of each patient as fully as we possible can.  In this respect, we collaborate closely with the Compassion for Care movement.

A  lot of work ahead!
Although ild occurs frequently, but it is not always recognized and not very well known among the public.  There are many manifestations of ild, which means that patients often encounter a lack of understanding as a result of inadequate information.  Patients frequently find it difficult to explain the nature of their disease and find proper treatment.  Changing this situation requires money – money for research, for developing new diagnostic tools, for patient education, for personalized care.  Unfortunately less and less funding is available.

Do you regard the work of the ild care foundation important? 

Will you support our initiative to bring this disease onto center stage? 

Why not make a donation?