TERT and TERC mutations account for 8–15% of familial and 1–3% of sporadic IPF, while other telomere-related mutations like NAF1, PARN, RTEL1, DKC1, TINF2 and ZCCHC8 account for 1-3% of familial cases5,28,29,31,44,47–49. Here, TERC is linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.