Asbestos And Related Diseases In Western Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$404,727.00
Summary
This project will extend the follow-up of large, well established groups of people who have experienced significant exposure to blue asbestos, either through their jobs or environmentally. Mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis are common among these groups. This study will provide information on the effects of different levels of exposure to blue asbestos. Ways in which these diseases may be prevented through the diet and other lifestyle habits will be closely examined. This project provides ....This project will extend the follow-up of large, well established groups of people who have experienced significant exposure to blue asbestos, either through their jobs or environmentally. Mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis are common among these groups. This study will provide information on the effects of different levels of exposure to blue asbestos. Ways in which these diseases may be prevented through the diet and other lifestyle habits will be closely examined. This project provides important data on the dose-response effects of a known carcinogen. Due to the integrated nature of our already established follow up systems we are in a unique position worldwide to achieve these aims. The dose response relationships between exposure and disease identified by this study will contribute to occupational health and safety exposure standards and compensation policy in Australia. The information on lifestyle factors is appropriate for use in many different health promotion interventions. Ongoing contact with the cohorts is critical to our involvement in collaborative preventative and biological studies.Read moreRead less
This project will update the Wittenoom cohorts by tracing cancers and deaths in Australia and Italy. This will improve risk estimates of lung cancer and mesothelioma. In particular we will see if that risk declines with more than 40 years since exposure, in collaboration with Italian colleagues. We will continue developing an interactive community website to act as a support platform, a layman's bridge to medical research knowledge, public health information and an archive of personal stories.
Inhaling asbestos fibres causes cancer (both mesothelioma and lung cancer). These are related to the amount of asbestos inhaled. This study will look at lung tissue removed from people for other medical reasons to see if those at high risk (e.g. construction workers) have benefited from the laws restricting asbestos use. We hope to predict rates of these cancers in the future from these results, based on the numbers of fibres seen in the lungs.
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
Serum Mesothelin-related Protein As An Early Marker Of Mesothelioma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,750.00
Summary
The deadly asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma is continuing to kill tens of thousands of individuals per year and its incidence is increasing. It is expected to cost communities hundreds of billions of dollars in compensation. This disease is usually already quite advanced by the time a patients presents to a doctor with symptoms so we have been working on methods of early detection. This project studies a new, exciting method of diagnosis using blood levels of a molecule called 'SMRP'. Late l ....The deadly asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma is continuing to kill tens of thousands of individuals per year and its incidence is increasing. It is expected to cost communities hundreds of billions of dollars in compensation. This disease is usually already quite advanced by the time a patients presents to a doctor with symptoms so we have been working on methods of early detection. This project studies a new, exciting method of diagnosis using blood levels of a molecule called 'SMRP'. Late last year we published a paper in the prestigious journal Lancet showing that SMRP was a good test to help diagnose mesothelioma and this became a lead news item around the world because of widespread concern about this disease. In those studies we found strong clues that this test was very sensitive and could detect mesothelioma a year or so before a patient develops symptoms. In this grant we will evaluate whether this test could be useful for screening asbestos-exposed individuals for early detection of this cancer. We will also study ways of improving the test using laboratory methods. This would provide a foundation for studies aimed at determining if early treatment could improve patient survival.Read moreRead less
Early Detection Of Lung Cancer And Mesothelioma In Asbestos Workers At Highest Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,268.00
Summary
Through no fault of their own, many Australian workers have been inadvertently exposed to asbestos and are at high risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma. With the peak incidence bearing upon us, there is an urgent need for early detection by CT.
Exposure To Diesel Exhaust And Lung Cancer Risk In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,519.00
Summary
Exposure to diesel exhaust increases the risk of lung cancer. One in five Australians is exposed to diesel exhaust in the workplace. This project will provide an exposure-response relation between diesel exhaust and lung cancer based on Australia-specific data. We will also estimate the number of lung cancer cases due to diesel exhaust exposure in Australia. We will do this by studying all miners in WA in the last 15 years, by linking several databases that are available in WA.