Centre Of Research Excellence In Pulmonary And Environmental Medicine.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,007,200.00
Summary
This Centre will study inhalational lung diseases, ie diseases caused by substances such as asbestos, cigarette smoke, air pollutants and allergens. Australia has of the highest incidences in the world of at least 2 of the diseases to be studied, asbestos- and allergen-induced lung diseases. These two alone are estimated to cost the Australian economy over $100 million -yr and $1 billion respectively in direct health costs plus loss of productivity and compensation. Furthermore COPD on of our ot ....This Centre will study inhalational lung diseases, ie diseases caused by substances such as asbestos, cigarette smoke, air pollutants and allergens. Australia has of the highest incidences in the world of at least 2 of the diseases to be studied, asbestos- and allergen-induced lung diseases. These two alone are estimated to cost the Australian economy over $100 million -yr and $1 billion respectively in direct health costs plus loss of productivity and compensation. Furthermore COPD on of our other major areas of interest is the 4th leading cause of death in males and conservatively costs the economy over one billion dollars per year as well as being the leading cause of disability in the elderly. It is predicted that COPD will be the 4th most common disease worldwide by 2020. As such this area of study is important for Australia and internationally and any advances will deliver major economic and health benefits. We will study the role of blood and sputum tests in the diagnosis, monitoring, screening and management of lung diseases caused by asbestos, cigarette smoke, air pollutants and allergens ie. mesothelioma, asthma, COPD and lung cancer. We will apply modern DNA 'gene chip' methods to study the pathogenesis of these diseases and help us to identify new treatment targets. This will also be used to guide genetic searches for polymorphism's, spliced variants and DNA modification(epigentics) in COPD and lung cancer. Genetic studies of sensitivity to air pollution will be used to define at risk patients We will also evaluate how the method of cell death that occurs during some therapies eg. in cancer and allergy-asthma, might alter how the body responds and thus help us develop novel therapeutic strategies for these diseases. This research program should lead to new tests and treatments and at the same time promote the training of a new generation of young researchers in this field and so ensure that the work continues long termRead moreRead less
Outcome Of Childhood Asthma In Adult Life And The Interaction With COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$503,549.00
Summary
The Melbourne Study of Childhood Asthma (MESCA) is the longest, most comprehensive follow-up study of childhood asthma. The members were recruited in 1964 at the age of 7 and they have been reviewed at ages 10, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 years of age with a retention rate of 87% of survivors at the most recent follow-up. To date, the MESCA study has provided comprehensive data on the outcome of childhood asthma through to their adult years and has been particularly influential in establishing approac ....The Melbourne Study of Childhood Asthma (MESCA) is the longest, most comprehensive follow-up study of childhood asthma. The members were recruited in 1964 at the age of 7 and they have been reviewed at ages 10, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 years of age with a retention rate of 87% of survivors at the most recent follow-up. To date, the MESCA study has provided comprehensive data on the outcome of childhood asthma through to their adult years and has been particularly influential in establishing approaches to treatment of paediatric asthma nationally and internationally. The results of the study have been published widely over the years and cited extensively. The members of this cohort turn 50 in 2007 and will be invited to participate in a further review to reassess their clinical outcome to examine the relationship between long standing asthma and the development of COPD. Those members of the cohort who have had asthma persisting through their adult years have a degree of fixed obstruction on their tests of lung function and are potentially at risk of developing COPD. Some are at increased risk as approximately 30% of the members are regular smokers. In this review, at age 59 years, there is an excellent opportunity to examine the interaction of asthma and COPD and to compare the inflammatory processes between those who have continuing asthma, those whose asthma has resolved and in each group examine the effect of smoking. We will also look at a numbers of genetic markers associated with COPD to identify those who are more susceptible to the development of COPD. A second area of interest is the components of the immune system that influence asthma.. In an earlier study we identified one component of the immune system, known as the T cell system, that had returned to normal in those whose asthma had resolved. In this review, we plan to examine the T cell system in detail to understand what mechanisms may be responsible for resolution of childhood asthma.Read moreRead less
I am a salaried-full time Physician in Respiratory Medicine at a major teaching hospital with postgraduate training, research experience and qualifications in clinical medicine and the epidemiology of occupational and environmental lung diseases and cance
Airway fibrosis or scaring causes significant morbidity in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma . These diseases affect 10-15% of the population, and cost the health system $1.15 billion per year. Airway fibrosis is not decreased by the current therapeutics used to treat COPD and asthma, and as such there is a pressing need to develop therapeutics to specifically treat airway fibrosis. Dr Brian Oliver has partnered with Pharmaxis to develop new therapeutics to specificall ....Airway fibrosis or scaring causes significant morbidity in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma . These diseases affect 10-15% of the population, and cost the health system $1.15 billion per year. Airway fibrosis is not decreased by the current therapeutics used to treat COPD and asthma, and as such there is a pressing need to develop therapeutics to specifically treat airway fibrosis. Dr Brian Oliver has partnered with Pharmaxis to develop new therapeutics to specifically treat fibrosisRead moreRead less
I am a clinical scientist conducting translational and implementation research to improve diagnosis, management and understanding of airway diseases including asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), bronchiectasis and persistent cough.
Response Of Human Airways To Deep Inflation In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$281,037.00
Summary
The trachea and bronchi contain muscle that when it contracts narrows the air passages and makes it harder to breath. In healthy people taking a deep breath relaxes this airway muscle and improved breathing. However, in people who suffer from asthma and chronic airflow obstruction deep breaths do not have the normal relaxing actions on airway contraction. This study will use lung removed as part of surgery for lung cancer to study how the relaxing actions of deep breathing work in human airways.
Hyperplasia And Hypertrophy Of Airway Smooth Muscle In Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,250.00
Summary
Asthma is common in Australia with significant morbidity and it is the 6th Australian National Health Priority. Examination of the airways in asthma shows increased thickness of the airway wall (remodeling), and inflammation. Most long-term asthma treatment is currently focussed on treating inflammation. Since the contribution of smooth muscle to remodeling and excessive airway narrowing is crucial and may be largely independent of airway inflammation, new treatments aimed at the smooth muscle a ....Asthma is common in Australia with significant morbidity and it is the 6th Australian National Health Priority. Examination of the airways in asthma shows increased thickness of the airway wall (remodeling), and inflammation. Most long-term asthma treatment is currently focussed on treating inflammation. Since the contribution of smooth muscle to remodeling and excessive airway narrowing is crucial and may be largely independent of airway inflammation, new treatments aimed at the smooth muscle are needed. Treatments must be based on knowledge of the factors which result in more smooth muscle - hypertrophy (enlargement of cells), hyperplasia (more cells) or deposition of proteins (extracellular matrix) between the muscle cells. Matrix is produced by airway myofibroblasts which are more numerous in asthma. These various contributing factors have different signals that can be targeted for treatment, however, information regarding their relative importance is scant. We propose to examine cases of mild and severe asthma using archived tissue blocks in a multi-centre collaborative study using stereological techniques not previously applied to the airway in man. This study is important because it will: 1. Yield new data regarding the degree to which hyperplasia, hypertrophy and increased extracellular matrix vary in the airways; 2. Provide direction for the development of treatments of increased smooth muscle in asthma; 3. Provide relevance and direction to animal and tissue studies of airway smooth muscle; 4. Yield new information on the number of myofibroblasts in mild and severe asthma; 5. Yield new information on the effects of corticosteroids on smooth muscle, extracellular matrix and myofibroblasts in severe, fatal asthma, and 6. Relate increased smooth muscle to increased extracellular matrix, numbers of myofibroblasts and other airway wall dimensions including those close to the airway surface. These may be used to monitor airway pathology in asthma.Read moreRead less
We will conduct a survey of respiratory symptoms, lung function, smoking status, occupational exposures, and other risk factors among 3200 people aged 40 years and over living in five Australian communities: Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmania, Busselton (WA), and the Kimberley region (WA). In the Kimberley we will survey 400 Aboriginal people and 400 non-Aboriginal people. We will use a survey methodology that has been developed by an international expert panel and has been implemented in many other co ....We will conduct a survey of respiratory symptoms, lung function, smoking status, occupational exposures, and other risk factors among 3200 people aged 40 years and over living in five Australian communities: Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmania, Busselton (WA), and the Kimberley region (WA). In the Kimberley we will survey 400 Aboriginal people and 400 non-Aboriginal people. We will use a survey methodology that has been developed by an international expert panel and has been implemented in many other countries (in North and South America, Asia, and Europe). This study will provide the first nationally-representative information on the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the opportunities for health gain by improving the management of this illness. In Australia, COPD is a relatively silent and under-recognised disease but nevertheless is the third most important contributor to the burden of disease and the third leading cause of hospital admission as well as being the underlying cause of 4.2% of all deaths. The information we will collect is needed to form a basis for prevention and disease management interventions to reduce the burden of COPD, particularly among population sub-groups who are disproportionately affected, either due to greater exposure to risk factors (mainly tobacco smoking and occupation), greater susceptibility, under-recognition and under-diagnosis, or inadequate disease management. Importantly, the study will serve to raise awareness about the hazards of smoking for all Australians. By identifying target groups, prevalent exposures and management deficiencies, it will lead the way towards policy-relevant randomised controlled trials testing community-based interventions to prevent COPD and-or manage it more effectively. The information collected will help advance knowledge of the prevalence, burden and treatment of COPD that will be relevant to communities throughout the world.Read moreRead less
A-Prof Greg King is a respiratory physician researcher whose studies are to define the mechanisms by which diseases, such as asthma and COPD occur. He has developed novel tools to measure lung disease, particularly complex lung function testing and lung imaging.