Genetic And Environmental Factors And Early Lung Problems Can Be Related To Allergy And Poor Lung Development In Preschool Age Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,032.00
Summary
This important new collaboration between the Murdoch ChildrenÍs Research Institute and Barwon Health explores the impact of early lung development on longer term respiratory health. It utilises a newly validated, accurate and safe technique to measure lung function in young babies and children. Data on environmental factors and lung function will help us explore the risk factors for the development of allergy, asthma and lung infections in early life.
Investigation Into Host Susceptibility And Immune Responses In Young Children With Acute Wheezing Due To Human Rhinovirus Group C Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,711.00
Summary
We recently made the surprising discovery that a new viral group, human rhinovirus group C (HRV-C), causes the majority of acute asthma in children. We also found that it causes half of the acute wheezing attacks in younger children, and is the only respiratory virus associated with allergy. So, HRV-C may be the key to the relationship between allergy and asthma. The planned project will focus on whether young children who wheeze with HRV-C have related defects in their immune system.
Non-invasive Methods Of Measuring Work Of Breathing In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$41,267.00
Summary
Sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnoea, is currently diagnosed if a child stops breathing more than once per hour. For children with asthma or cystic fibrosis, who may not stop breathing during the night, how hard their breathing muscles work can have a significant impact on their health. A non-invasive method of measuring respiratory effort, and incorporating this measurement into how sleep-disordered breathing is diagnosed, can revolutionize how sleep-disordered breathing ....Sleep-disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnoea, is currently diagnosed if a child stops breathing more than once per hour. For children with asthma or cystic fibrosis, who may not stop breathing during the night, how hard their breathing muscles work can have a significant impact on their health. A non-invasive method of measuring respiratory effort, and incorporating this measurement into how sleep-disordered breathing is diagnosed, can revolutionize how sleep-disordered breathing in children are managed world-wide.Read moreRead less
The Clinical Utility Of Small Airway Function Tests In Paediatric Respiratory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$64,631.00
Summary
Respiratory disease is an important child health issue with long term implications into adulthood. The evaluation of small airways involvement in disease processes, using an accurate sensitive measures of function, such as forced oscillation technique and multiple breath washout, potentially facilitates not only early detection of disease, but instigation of earlier treatment, better assessment of response to treatment, and ultimately better outcome.
A POPULATION-BASED COHORT INVESTIGATION OF LUNG FUNCTION IN RELATION TO EARLY LIFE LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT ILLNESS AND AEROALLERGN SENSITISATION
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,013.00
Summary
Infancy appears to be the critical developmental window during which important alterations in lung structure and function develop. In this study we will assess how early lung function evolves in relation to potential insults such as lower respiratory tract infections and allergic inflammation. These are the mechanisms by which asthma is thought to develop. We will use exciting new lung function tests to evaluate lung function abnormalities associated with peripheral dysfunction characteristic of ....Infancy appears to be the critical developmental window during which important alterations in lung structure and function develop. In this study we will assess how early lung function evolves in relation to potential insults such as lower respiratory tract infections and allergic inflammation. These are the mechanisms by which asthma is thought to develop. We will use exciting new lung function tests to evaluate lung function abnormalities associated with peripheral dysfunction characteristic of chronic airway disease such as asthma.Read moreRead less
Extending The MIS BAIR Randomised Trial Of BCG To Prevent Childhood Allergy And Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$939,504.00
Summary
BCG (used till recently to prevent tuberculosis) is a potential low cost and readily available vaccine which could reduce the rates of allergy and infection in Australian children. We propose to extend our existing NHMRC-funded trial, which studies whether BCG vaccinatinon given at birth prevents the development food allergy, eczema and infection in the 1st year of life, to see if this effect continues until 5yrs of age. At this age, we can also see if BCG vaccination at birth prevents asthma.
Inflammatory Airway Diseases In Children: Mechanisms Underlying And Preventative Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$823,008.00
Summary
Professor Sly’s research concentrates on understanding why some children develop chronic lung disease and on finding ways to prevent this from happening.
Domestic air quality: towards the setting of guidelines. Air quality standards have been developed to protect human health. Although people spend most of their time indoors there are no standards and only a few guidelines for indoor air pollution (IAP). The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of IAP that may worsen asthma in children. Childhood asthma will be used as a health indicator due to its high prevalence, cost to the healthcare system and implications for respiratory morbidity ....Domestic air quality: towards the setting of guidelines. Air quality standards have been developed to protect human health. Although people spend most of their time indoors there are no standards and only a few guidelines for indoor air pollution (IAP). The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of IAP that may worsen asthma in children. Childhood asthma will be used as a health indicator due to its high prevalence, cost to the healthcare system and implications for respiratory morbidity in adult life. We expect to identify levels of IAP that will represent a health risk as well as the factors that may contribute to increased IAP in homes.Read moreRead less
Characterising Lung Growth And Development In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
A/Prof Graham Hall is senior researcher at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth, Western Australia and is internationally recognised for his research in the area of respiratory physiology in infants and young children. His research focuses on understanding the impact of respiratory diseases, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, as well as pre-term birth and air pollution on lung function not only in early life but as the lung grows and develops.
Optimising bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for preterm infants. Synchrotron imaging will be used to see how the lungs of newborns are aerated and move when they are supported by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) breathing support. This project will provide fundamental biological information that will contribute to refinement of devices to support breathing in babies.