Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes airway narrowing and lung destruction resulting in breathlessness and cough. Earlier detection of acute attacks of breathlessness may improve treatment, prevent progression and reduce risk of death. The forced oscillation technique can detect attacks earlier and is easy to perform. It will be used in this study for home monitoring with application of time series analyses to accurately detect change so that acute attacks can be treated earlier.
Spirometry And Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) Reference Values For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,790.00
Summary
Lung diseases are one of the leading contributors to the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Simple tests, such as spirometry, are needed for early diagnosis and good management of lung diseases. My study aims to develop healthy reference values which are lacking for this population. Results from my study will improve the accuracy of test interpretation, aid in diagnosis and clinical care, and reduce morbidity of lung disease for Indigenous Australians.
THE EFFECT OF LONG ACTING BRONCHODILATORS ON VENTILATION IN COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$143,676.00
Summary
COPD is a common and important smoking-related lung disease. Well-established treatments with inhaled medications including long-acting bronchodilators have a proven clinical track record. However the physiological basis for their effects is still under investigation. This research examines some of the physiological changes in lung function and the response to long-acting bronchodilators in patients with COPD, and may help explain why some patients respond to therapy while others do not, leading ....COPD is a common and important smoking-related lung disease. Well-established treatments with inhaled medications including long-acting bronchodilators have a proven clinical track record. However the physiological basis for their effects is still under investigation. This research examines some of the physiological changes in lung function and the response to long-acting bronchodilators in patients with COPD, and may help explain why some patients respond to therapy while others do not, leading to more targeted therapeuticsRead moreRead less
Maternal Gut Microbiome During Pregnancy Influences Offspring Atopy And Asthma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$46,622.00
Summary
Allergic diseases such as food allergy and asthma have increased significantly as our exposure to bacteria has reduced. Many studies have explored exposure to bacteria in early life but few have examined the maternal bacteria we are exposed to while we develop in the womb. New studies indicate that we are exposed to many different components of our mothers gut bacteria and this might change our developing immune system and determine whether or not we get diseases like food allergy and asthma.
Environmental Risk Factors And Genetic Modifiers For Lung Health And Lung Function In A High Risk Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,348.00
Summary
Asthma is an important determinant of respiratory health and longevity. While early life exposures are thought to be important, the evidence linking them with asthma and lung function is inconclusive. There is a scarcity of longitudinal studies and few investigate genes and environment. This study will determine whether environmental exposures along with their relevant genetic modifiers are related to increased risk of asthma and impaired lung function in a high allergy risk birth cohort.
Lung Injury: Influence Of Sodium, Water, Albumin, Gravity And Body Position
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$117,331.00
Summary
Although patients with poor oxygenation often require mechanical ventilation, only therapies that reduce lung damage improve outcome whereas therapies that improve oxygenation have not been shown to improve outcome. This project will examine the role of two common interventions in critically ill patients, fluid resuscitation and posture change, on lung injury. It is anticipated this will lead to clinical trials that will further improve survival in ventilated patients with respiratory failure.
Do Retinal Microvascular Signs Predict Ischaemic Heart Disease Subtype? The Australian Heart Eye Study (AHES)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$65,532.00
Summary
Narrowing of the large vessels of the heart and abnormal function of the small vessels are both causes of coronary heart disease and chest pain.There are few non-invasive investigations to help differentiate between large and small vessel disease and assess one’s risk of developing disease in the future.The study uses retinal photography and coronary angiography to assess whether changes in the structure of the blood vessels of the eye may be used to identify the type of coronary heart disease a ....Narrowing of the large vessels of the heart and abnormal function of the small vessels are both causes of coronary heart disease and chest pain.There are few non-invasive investigations to help differentiate between large and small vessel disease and assess one’s risk of developing disease in the future.The study uses retinal photography and coronary angiography to assess whether changes in the structure of the blood vessels of the eye may be used to identify the type of coronary heart disease as well as the risk of future cardiac events.Read moreRead less
Prediction Of Ventricular Arrhythmias And Prevention Of Sudden Cardiac Death Following Revascularised Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$117,270.00
Summary
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of death in Australia. Patients with coronary artery disease and impaired left ventricular function are at increased risk of heart failure, reinfarction and sudden cardiac death (SCD). This research will evaluate optimal methods to identify patients at risk for SCD following AMI using echocardiographic, MRI, and electrophysiological characteristics, and improve survival by early identification and management of these high-risk patients.
Prospective Clinical Research Of Radiation Response To High-dose Radiotherapy In Lung Tumours And Surrounding Normal Tissue Using Functional Imaging Biomarker Assessments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,275.00
Summary
Radiotherapy is a potentially curative treatment for cancers of the lung. To improve outcomes, modern research efforts have focussed on radiotherapy dose escalation. However a major limitation to dose escalation is the associated toxicity to the lung. At present, the mechanisms of lung toxicity are incompletely understood. This research will investigate biomarkers of radiation response in patients receiving high-dose radiotherapy to the lung by using state-of-the-art scanning techniques.
NY-ESO-1 Expression As An Inducible Chemosensitivity Marker
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,237.00
Summary
Immunotherapy is a new concept treatment for lung cancer. Cancer testis antigen (CTA, eg NY-ESO-1) is an immunogenic molecule that was related with poor outcomes, but our recent studies have found that tumours that express NY-ESO-1 are more responsive to chemotherapy. We are also able to induce expression of NY-ESO-1 in cells that do not normally express it using demethylating agents. We aim to determine if we can increase the response to chemotherapy by using these drugs in combination.